Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a tote box (14) and the contents thereof is disclosed. A tote box support (16) is secured to conveyor chain (20) which are mounted on pulleys (32). Pneumatic motor (36) drives rotatable shafts (34) which are secured to the pulleys (32). This provides a means for supporting the tote box (14) in a load position and an unload position, and also a means for transferring the tote box (14) between the load and unload positions. A contents washing container (40) is disposed in fixed relationship with respect to the supporting and transferring means and is pivotally mounted for movement between first and second positions. In the first position, the container (40) is in a position to receive the contents from the tote box (14), when in the unload position. The container (40) in the second position, is in a position to empty the contents into the tote box (14), when in the load position.

Abstract: The contents of an open-top tote box are cleaned by flooding the tote box while the tote box is horizontal at a first position with a volume of cleaning solution at least twice that of the tote box so that the solution flows over the open top of the tote box; indexing the tote box to a second position where the flooding operation is repeated; indexing the tote box to a third position where an apertured cover is placed over its open top and then rotating the tote box less than 180.degree. to remove cleaning solution from the tote box through the cover.