The invention concerns a steriliser unit (10) for sterilising an absorbentbody (30), such as a sponge. The steriliserunit firstly comprises a container (12) for holding a disinfectant, thecontainer providing a soak position (22) and a discharge position(26). The steriliser unit also includes a discharge unit (14) for cooperationwith the container, the discharge unit defines acompression compartment (28) in which the absorbent body can be held. Thedischarge unit is further movable between a releaseposition in which the absorbent body can be located within the compressioncompartment and a compression position in which thedischarge unit will apply a compressive force on the absorbent body inside thecompression compartment. In use the compressioncompartment can be located within the soak position of the container when thedischarge unit is located in its release position,thereby allowing the absorbent body to absorb an amount of disinfectant. Thedischarge unit can also be moved to its compressionposition when the compression compartment is located in the discharge positionof the container, such that the absorbent body isallowed to dispense the disinfectant which it had absorbed when it was locatedinside the soak position of the container.
