Abstract: Cleaning methods for rail cars that haul freight, such as covered hoppers, open hoppers, box cars, tank cars, autoracks, locomotives, flat cars, remove the residue from materials transported by the rail car itself. The rail cars have at least one surface. Freight includes, but is not limited to, agricultural products, industrial products, foodstuffs, living beings, and packaged goods. Methods include the steps of vacuuming excess materials remaining in rail car, removing clinging or otherwise persistent materials with a forced air system, which may be augmented with abrasive materials to a surface of the rail car, and vacuuming up or otherwise removing all remaining dust and debris, and repeating some or all of the steps as necessary. In addition, methods wipe down the surface with a dry rag (e.g., paper or cloth) and/or wipe down the surface with a damp rag. A rag could also be used to apply a sterilizing agent, which would depend upon the application and materials removed and shipped.