insert 18 can be lifted out and the foam 14 rinsed off while the instruments 10 are still in the insert 18 normal washing and sterilization may then occur washing may comprise treatment with enzymatic cleansers detergents or other cleaning agents preferably in combination with mechanical scrubbing or agitation including optionally treatment with water jets ultrasonic vibration or the like following washing the instrument should be sterilized preferably in the container 12 such as by chemical vapor or steam autoclaving it is particularly convenient if the container 12 with the insert 18 is adapted for use in the terminal sterilization such as a sterrad u00ae hydrogen peroxide gas plasma system or a steam system suitable materials such as liquid crystal polymers and construction details for such containers especially containers adaptable to either steam or hydrogen peroxide are shown in u s pat nos 6 379 631 and 6 692 693 to wu incorporated herein by reference such containers are typically wrapped with csr wrap or incorporate semi permeable membrane filters to allow sterilization of instruments therein with vapor sterilants while protecting the against ingress of potentially contaminating microorganisms after sterilization turning also now to fig2 in addition to covering an exterior surface of the instrument 10 with the hydrogen peroxide foam 14 if the instrument 10 has a lumen 22 a liquid or mist 24 comprising hydrogen peroxide is preferably sprayed into the lumen 22 prior to placing the instrument 10 into the container 12 and covering the instrument 10 with foam 14 the mist is also preferably dispensed from a pressurized.