Patent ID: 7462586

Claim:
A method of cleaning metal medical and dental instruments to remove contaminants therefrom and inhibit corrosion, comprising: (a) in a wash stage, washing the instruments in an aqueous wash solution containing a detergent composition including a low-residue corrosion inhibitor in accordance with a predetermined cleaning program to loosen or dissolve substantially all contaminants expected to be on said instruments, then draining the aqueous wash solution from the instruments; then (b) submitting the instruments to at least one stage of rinsing to remove said contaminants and said aqueous wash solution remaining after said wash stage by using an aqueous rinse liquid, said aqueous rinse liquid being substantially free of said aqueous wash solution and including a selected concentration of said detergent to flush said contaminants and said aqueous wash solution from said instruments in at least the final rinse stage.