Method for operating a washing machine, the washing machine comprising - a suds container, - a washing drum arranged in the suds container and rotationally drivable about an axis of rotation, - a drum drive for rotationally driving the washing drum about its axis of rotation, - a circulation pump for pumping liquid in the suds container onto textiles in the washing drum, - at least one level sensor for capturing information relating to a fill level of liquid in the suds container, - a control device, the method comprising the following method steps: a) the washing drum is rotationally driven about its axis of rotation at a base rotational speed; b) the circulation pump is operated to pump liquid in the suds container onto the textiles until the information captured by the level sensor indicates that the fill level of the suds container has reached a previously defined value; c) after the fill level has reached the defined value, the circulation pump is switched off; d) the washing drum continues to be rotated, whereby liquid is expelled from the textiles and collects in the suds container, wherein the speed of the washing drum is increased from the base rotational speed to an expulsion rotational speed; e) information relating to the fill level of the suds container is captured by means of the level sensor and transmitted to the control device; f) the information is processed by means of the control device in such a way that a volume of expelled liquid, which is determined on the basis of at least one fill level, is divided by a duration of an expulsion period, whereby a volume flow of the expelled liquid averaged over the expulsion period is determined. - a suds container, - a washing drum arranged in the suds container and rotationally drivable about an axis of rotation, - a drum drive for rotationally driving the washing drum about its axis of rotation, - a circulation pump for pumping liquid in the suds container onto textiles in the washing drum, - at least one level sensor for capturing information relating to a fill level of liquid in the suds container, - a control device, a) the washing drum is rotationally driven about its axis of rotation at a base rotational speed; b) the circulation pump is operated to pump liquid in the suds container onto the textiles until the information captured by the level sensor indicates that the fill level of the suds container has reached a previously defined value; c) after the fill level has reached the defined value, the circulation pump is switched off; d) the washing drum continues to be rotated, whereby liquid is expelled from the textiles and collects in the suds container, wherein the speed of the washing drum is increased from the base rotational speed to an expulsion rotational speed; e) information relating to the fill level of the suds container is captured by means of the level sensor and transmitted to the control device; f) the information is processed by means of the control device in such a way that a volume of expelled liquid, which is determined on the basis of at least one fill level, is divided by a duration of an expulsion period, whereby a volume flow of the expelled liquid averaged over the expulsion period is determined.