A method for disinfecting or sterilizing an article comprising enclosing thearticle or article part inside a container having a wall of which at least a partis a semipermeable fabric or membrane and introducing an amount of vaporizablebiocide, preferably hydrogen peroxide in water, to the interior of said containerin solution, vapour, liquid or preferably nebulant form. The semipermeablefabric or membrane is selected to allow the biocide to pass from inside to outsideof the container as a vapour at atmospheric pressure and to provide a barrier againstentry of micro-organisms. The biocide is allowed to exit the container throughsaid membrane while at or above atmospheric pressure, a fluid eg air is directedto flow adjacent the outside of the membrane to expedite vapour removal from theinterior side. The article is exposed to the biocide for a time sufficient to disinfector sterilize the article.
