Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning, in particular degassing, thermoplastic plastics, in particular polyolefins, the apparatus including a cleaning container for the thermoplastic plastic to be cleaned and a feed apparatus for feeding the thermoplastic plastic to be cleaned into the cleaning container in pourable form, the cleaning container having a gas feed opening, and a steam generator for generating water vapor being provided and being connected to the gas feed opening in order to feed the water vapor to the cleaning container.