A former bus driver has revealed some of the grimiest and dirtiest hotspots on a bus as he shared the places he would always avoid and the areas that get ignored by the cleaners
Buses make life so much easier when needing to get around a busy town or city – but while they may be handy, they’re also a huge breeding ground for germs.
London buses carry millions of people a year, and one former bus driver says there are certain areas he would always make sure to avoid as they collect much more dirt and grime than you may think.
Most of us would assume that buses get cleaned daily, but retired driver John Miller warns that’s not always the case – and there are grim hotspots he would always avoid touching.
“People assume buses are cleaned top to bottom every night. But unless there’s a spill or a complaint, a lot of it just doesn’t get touched, just gets a quick wipe down,” John told Plates Express, a custom number plate website. “I’ve seen what builds up over time, and there are places I’d never rest my jacket — let alone eat off.”
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Seat warning
“Try patting a seat down before you sit — you’ll see a cloud of dust come up,” John warned. He revealed that while the upholstered seats may look clean on the surface, they only really get a “light vacuum or brush”.
“You’re sitting on years of dust, hair, dropped crisps, and worse. Spills soak in and dry out. They’re never steam-cleaned regularly like they should be,” he added.
The stop buttons
According to John, the stop button is one of the most touched parts – and the least cleaned. “They’re high-use but low-priority when it comes to cleaning. If you think about how many people press those in a day, it’s best not to think about what’s on them. I recommend just giving the bus driver a shout when you want to stop.”
Handrails and poles
Even though the handrails and poles may look polished, they’re not very hygienic according to the former driver. Thousands of hands hold on to the same poles every day, often without a wipe-down in between. “During cold and flu season, I always noticed people coughing into their hands, then grabbing the rail. I’d recommend holding on with your sleeve if you can.”
The back row
In terms of where he would avoid sitting, John said to steer clear from the back row as it’s where people will most likely dump stuff and spill things. He claimed it’s also where the cleaners “rarely get to”. He said the the back row sees everything from spilled drinks to discarded wrappers, and in some late-night cases, worse.
“It’s tucked away, so people don’t care as much. Even if you don’t see the mess, it’s likely there,” he added.
Window ledges
“People lean on them, leave greasy marks, and sometimes rest food there – which you should never do,” John insisted. He claimed they’re “often overlooked” when cleaning and the ridges beneath the windows collect dust, crumbs, and even condensation mould. “They’re easy to miss during a clean but are one of the dirtiest places over time.”
Even though John shared just how unclean buses can be, he says you shouldn’t avoid them altogether. He advised: “Carry some sanitiser, avoid putting food on surfaces, and maybe skip the back row if you can.”
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