Process for cleaning articles

1. 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.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent comprises a glycol ether and/or a chlorinated hydrocarbon.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method additionally comprises a further step of introducing an organic solvent into the cleaning chamber prior to the introduction of water vapour.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the article is immersed in the organic solvent in at least one of the organic solvent introduction steps.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is recycled.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein during the recycling step, water is removed from the solvent.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water vapour is produced by evaporation of a water-rich fraction of an at least partially water-miscible organic composition, wherein the composition has a higher boiling point than water.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the water-miscible organic composition comprises the organic solvent.