Apparatus and method for disinfecting writing instruments

An apparatus for disinfecting a writing instrument with a disinfecting fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• an absorbent material pad having first and second sides, and a breach extending through the pad from the first side to the second side of the pad, the pad absorbing the disinfecting fluid;
• a holder including
• a first member defining a compartment, the first member having a first, partially closed side defining an aperture that communicates with the compartment, and a second, substantially open side communicating with the compartment, and
• a second member joinable with and removable from the first member, the second member having first and second sides, and defining an aperture extending through the second member from the first side to the second side of the second member, the second side of the second member being partially closed so that, when the pad is inserted through the second, open side of the first member into the compartment of the first member and the second side of the second member is joined to the second side of the first member to assemble the apparatus, the pad is contained and held between the first side of the first member and the second side of the second member with the breach at the first side of the pad aligned with the aperture in the first side of the first member and the breach at the second side of the pad aligned with the aperture in the second member,
• the writing instrument being disinfected by forcing the writing instrument into the aperture of the second member, into the breach at the first side of the pad, through the pad, out of the breach at the second side of the pad, and out of the aperture of the first member.