That's a great question, and one I think a lot of people wonder about when they see those sturdy public bins on street corners. The short answer? You *can* just hose it down, but that's rarely enough for a proper, hygienic clean, especially in a busy urban setting.
Think about what ends up in a city trash can: coffee cups with leftover liquid, food wrappers, sometimes even half-eaten meals. A simple hose stream might rinse away surface dirt, but it won't tackle the sticky residues, germs, and odors that get baked into the plastic or metal. For a daily or weekly maintenance clean, sanitation crews often use a high-pressure hose with a disinfectant solution. They'll spray inside and out, targeting the lid mechanism and the often-grimy interior walls.
For a deep clean—usually done on a monthly or seasonal schedule—the process is more involved. The bin might be taken to a maintenance yard. There, it's common to use a commercial pressure washer. The powerful jet of hot water and cleaner blasts away grime that a garden hose could never touch. Sometimes, brushes and scrapers are needed for stubborn gunk. After washing, a disinfectant spray is applied to kill bacteria and prevent smells.
So, while hosing is a part of the process, a truly clean urban trash can requires pressure, heat, and the right cleaning agents. It's a task that balances efficiency with public health, ensuring our shared spaces are as clean and safe as possible.