The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for cleaning freight containers and for treating and circulating the cleansing liquids. According to the invention, an aqueous soda-containing solution is used as cleansing liquid, volatile organic substances, if any, are separated from the cleansing liquid in a separation unit (4) and in a distillation unit (5) and the liquid obtained in then treated with lime and carbon-containing fly ash in a mixing unit (8). The impurities of the cleansing liquid are sorbed to the activated carbon and precipitate onto the calcium carbonate. The slurry is filtered and the solid material retained in the filter (9) is further fed to a combustion unit (7). Flue gases formed in the combustion unit (7) are treated with the filtrate, whereby sodium hydroxide in the filtrate is transformed into carbonate form, and may be used as new cleansing liquid in combination with makeup chemicals. The volatile organic compounds are used as fuel in the combustion unit. The invention provides an integrated process, in which waste products may be used for treating cleansing liquids.