A method for washing laundry in a laundry washing machine comprising: - a washing tub external to a washing drum suited to receive the laundry to be washed; - a water supply system suitable to convey water to said washing tub; - a treating agents dispenser to supply at least one treating agent into said washing tub, one of said at least one treating agent comprising a detergent; - a liquid outlet circuit suitable for withdrawing liquid from a bottom region of said washing tub and draining said liquid to the outside; - a turbidity detecting device that measures the turbidity of the liquid flowing therethrough; the method comprising the steps of: - introducing into said washing tub a wash liquor including water and said detergent to soak said laundry; - draining said liquid to the outside through said liquid outlet circuit; characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: - determining, before said draining step, the soil level of said laundry by means of measurement of turbidity through said turbidity detecting device; - once the soil level determination of the wash liquor has been completed, performing a washing maintenance phase wherein said laundry is tumbled by rotation of said washing drum for a predetermined maintenance time so that said laundry is subject to mechanical action and said detergent has time to react with the dirty laundry; - performing at least one soil removal phase, after said draining step, if said soil level is high, wherein said at least one soil removal phase comprises introducing water into the washing tub, tumbling the laundry and draining liquid to the outside; - performing a rinse cycle (400; 400') and a final spinning phase. - a washing tub external to a washing drum suited to receive the laundry to be washed; - a water supply system suitable to convey water to said washing tub; - a treating agents dispenser to supply at least one treating agent into said washing tub, one of said at least one treating agent comprising a detergent; - a liquid outlet circuit suitable for withdrawing liquid from a bottom region of said washing tub and draining said liquid to the outside; - a turbidity detecting device that measures the turbidity of the liquid flowing therethrough; - introducing into said washing tub a wash liquor including water and said detergent to soak said laundry; - draining said liquid to the outside through said liquid outlet circuit; - determining, before said draining step, the soil level of said laundry by means of measurement of turbidity through said turbidity detecting device; - once the soil level determination of the wash liquor has been completed, performing a washing maintenance phase wherein said laundry is tumbled by rotation of said washing drum for a predetermined maintenance time so that said laundry is subject to mechanical action and said detergent has time to react with the dirty laundry; - performing at least one soil removal phase, after said draining step, if said soil level is high, wherein said at least one soil removal phase comprises introducing water into the washing tub, tumbling the laundry and draining liquid to the outside; - performing a rinse cycle (400; 400') and a final spinning phase.