A method for disinfecting or sterilizing an article comprising enclosing thearticle or article part inside a container having a wall of which at least apart is a semipermeable fabric or membrane and introducing an amount ofvaporizable biocide, preferably hydrogen peroxide in water, to the interior ofsaid container in solution, vapour, liquid or preferably nebulant form. Thesemipermeable fabric or membrane is selected to allow the biocide to pass frominside to outside of the container as a vapour at atmospheric pressure and toprovide a barrier against entry of micro-organisms. The biocide is allowed toexit the container through said membrane while at or above atmosphericpressure, a fluid eg air is directed to flow adjacent the outside of themembrane to expedite vapour removal from the interior side. The article isexposed to the biocide for a time sufficient to disinfect or sterilize thearticle.
