A method for operating a dishwasher that includes a plurality of water circuits in which rinsing liquid is circulated according to a program control unit. In an exemplary method, the circulation of the rinsing liquid results in the passage of the rinsing liquid through at least one filter element that captures dirt entrained with the rinsing liquid. In response to a selected one of a program command provided by the program control unit and a detection of a defined degree of soiling of the filter element with dirt, the method includes circulating the rinsing liquid in a second water circuit in coordination with disposing the filter element in a second operating state thereof in which dirt can be dislodged from the filter element.