Patent ID: 8197608

Claim:
A method for operating a dishwasher comprising at least one washing container, a washing fluid filter system having a filter surface, a re-circulation pump for conveying the washing fluid in a first flow direction through the filter surface of the washing fluid filter system to at least one spray device for acting upon items to be cleaned, which are located in the washing container, a lye pump for pumping away the washing liquid from the dishwasher in a second flow direction through the filter surface of the washing fluid filter system, wherein the second flow direction through the filter surface is opposite to the first flow direction through the filter surface, the method comprising: executing a wash program at least including partial program steps pre-wash (V 1 , V 2 ), clean (R 1 , R 2 ), intermediate rinse, clear rinse (K 1 , K 2 ) and dry, and cleaning the filter surface of the washing fluid filter system by operating the re-circulation pump and the lye pump at least temporarily in an alternating manner during at least one of the partial program steps (V 1 , V 2 , R 1 , R 2 , K 1 , K 2 ) such that the washing fluid is conveyed by the re-circulation pump in the first flow direction through the filter surface of the washing fluid filter system to the at least one spray device, and the washing fluid subsequently is conveyed by the lye pump in the second flow direction through the filter surface of the washing fluid filter system to wash away washing residue from the filter surface of the washing fluid filter system and carry the washing residue out of the dishwasher.