A method is provided for operating a dishwasher with at least one partial program step that includes heating a rinsing solution to a nominal temperature. Air that is heated by a heating device and used for desorption of a reversibly dehydratable material is conducted from a washing container of the dishwasher or ambient air is conducted through a sorption column with reversibly dehydratable material into the washing container in order to heat the rinsing solution and/or items to be washed. The heating device continues to operate after the desorbed state of the reversibly dehydratable material has been attained until the nominal temperature of the rinsing solution is reached.