Abstract: Printing press cylinders are washed with a washcloth which is selectively wound forward and backward between a rotatable supply drum and a rotatable takeup drum. The washcloth is thereby cyclically pressed against a surface of a respective cylinder of the printing press in the washing operation and it is transported onward onto the takeup drum. The washing operation is controlled by detecting, with a sensor system, a transport distance of the washcloth and furnishing, with the sensor, a transport distance signal. The system is initialized by checking whether or not the insert is present and/or whether or not the insert carries enough fresh washcloth. This is done by winding the washcloth forward and back by a given distance. During the ongoing washing operation the transport speed of the washcloth is continously determined from the transport distance signal and comparing with a predetermined lower value and a predetermined upper value.