Here’s How San Francisco Deep Cleans Its Streets

Despite being recently crowned the best city in the world to live in, San Francisco has struggled to fend off a reputation for dirty streets—a situation city officials have said will dampen economic activity if left unattended.

In its effort to fight filth, San Francisco spends $96 million a year on street cleaning, with $2.1 million specially earmarked for a new and expanded deep-cleaning program called CleanCorridorsSF. Armed with pressure washers and paint to cover up graffiti, Department of Public Works cleaners tackle a different commercial corridor each week.

The Here/Say Media video team took a look at the city’s CleanCorridorsSF street cleaning efforts in the colorful Castro District and spoke to cleaners about what is—and isn’t—working.