Patent ID: 8066820

Claim:
A method of cleaning at least one article having a surface to be cleaned, the method comprising the steps of: a) inserting the article into a cleaning chamber; b) subjecting the surface of the article to treatment with water vapour, wherein the water vapour does not comprise superheated steam, under conditions such that at least a portion of the water vapour condenses on said surface of the article as condensed water; and c) following step b), introducing an organic solvent into the cleaning chamber to immerse the article in the organic solvent and thereby removing the condensed water from the surface of the article; with the proviso that no immersion of the article in water or aqueous solution takes place in the cleaning chamber, and wherein the cleaning chamber is a closed cleaning chamber and is under a reduced pressure of less than or equal to 125 mbar during the introduction of the organic solvent.