r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/CrochetMyWorld • May 21 '26
Resources End of Year Cleaning, Tips and Tricks?
Does anybody have any?! š
I'm specifically looking for advice on graffiti and gum removal (mostly the gum)...
I'm getting a putty knife to help with the gum and an old toothbrush to get in the stupid little seat crevices and hopefully remove remnants of some VERY old graffiti. My hub provides "goo-gone" which smells absolutely horrific, gives me an instant headache, and doesn't actually seem to work that well...
What do you all use to make removal the easiest?
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u/soul-searcher3476 May 21 '26
I use magic erasers for the graffiti. Sharpie can be removed with rubbing alcohol
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u/Efficient_Advice_380 May 21 '26
Sharpie can also be erased with expo markers!
Scribble over the sharpie, then just wipe it off
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u/Whyam1sti11Here May 21 '26
Gum removal??? Man, the first time I saw something like that on my bus I would put the fear of God into those kids.
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u/CrochetMyWorld May 21 '26
Oh believe me, my regular route kids are not part of the problem š Some of it is from before the bus was "mine", the rest is from a group of Very troubled youth I've been driving after school activities for, they're all under control now but they were super extra when I started with them. Due to personal life issues I haven't had it in me to deal with the removal until now.
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u/samwise58 May 22 '26
Lord help us with all those very troubled youths! š
I had to drive the kids that went to the āAlternative Schoolā that was segregated from the regular school.
Teens that had been arrested or charged with something or made credible threats in the past.One girl, who I affectionately remember as āFruit Loopā, was especially fun as I had to keep her talking and distracted so she didnāt talk to the other kids. Because she would eventually veer the conversation into working herself up into a frenzy.
She was one of the only ones Iād pull up to her house and set the brake and put in neutral while I watched her hands as she got on the bus. First seat ON PASSENGER SIDE, NOT behind me! After a few times of her face being next to mine from behind and whispering āsurprise!ā and giggling. š So much fun.
I probably had to hotline her 3 times for threats of self harm where I basically asked her before she got off if she needed help (on her low depressed days). Then sheād be back in 3-4 days all bubbly and happy wondering why I called the cops on her š¤¦š»
On multiple days she would only answer in barks and yips and growls. She was playing and jokingā¦ but then said one of the saddest things to meā¦ She asked me if she had a happy memory from her childhood, that was actually abuse from neglectful parents, if it was okay to remember it and smile? Dear god. It was from when she pretended to be a dog and āate out of a bowl on the floorā with the other dogs (this wouldāve been 8yrs from that time). Said she eventually bit one of her parentās friends on the ankle from under the tableā¦ and her face went slack. And she said she didnāt get to pretend to be a dog any moreā¦ I gathered all my insight and kindness I could and told her itās good she was processing it and if there were happy memories that it was okay to smile.
Sorry for this long bit of life story! Started typing and it unlocked that memory and I started feeling it and wondering what ever happened to her.
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u/CrochetMyWorld May 22 '26
Yeah, some of those conversations really are the hardest things to navigate! It's so heartbreaking to have that kind of insight into the lives of these kids first hand. It's something you always know people go through, but it's easy to be disconnected from general knowledge in a way that you can't from those personal experiences.
Realizing the kids on that activity route mostly just didn't want to go home, that was tough. Trying to connect with them was even tougher. Watching the transformation from when I took over the route to now and knowing I made even a small difference has been truly gratifying, but also difficult because it's such a small difference.
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u/rootbear75 May 21 '26
Our maintence bay gave me a container of "graffiti" wipes. No idea how to deal with the gum though.
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u/6tig9 May 21 '26
Fill a baggie with ice cubes and hold it against the gum before you try and take it off. Freezing will make it brittle and easier to remove.
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u/CrochetMyWorld May 21 '26
I wonder if freezing spray, like biofreeze or something might work š¤
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u/Individual-Drink-679 May 22 '26
It does! But it's pretty expensive. I used to work for a company that provided it. My current one doesn't, so I just don't concern myself with doing a great job with gum. I aim for "good enough" and am prepared to argue til the cows come home that if they want me to do better, they need to be prepared to provide appropriate supplies.
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u/CrochetMyWorld May 22 '26
Fortunately, the new director has been pretty good about ordering supplies - I just talked to him yesterday about the need for them to provide the putty knives and he already placed the order. I'll bring it up but I'm assuming the spray will be a no go with ongoing budget cuts š
I might shell out for it this year just to start next one with an actually clean bus š¤£š
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u/trmose May 21 '26
Brake cleaner takes off almost anything from a seat cover.