Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making low resistance contacts between first and second metallization levels in integrated semiconductor circuits. In accordance with the invention, the semiconductor substrates to be cleaned are arranged on a substrate holder in a vacuum chamber. There, a gas plasma is generated by means of a getter electrode made of a material which has a high affinity for oxygen or oxygen containing compounds. This improves the vacuum by reducing the steam partial pressure. The actual cleaning of the exposed surfaces of the semiconductor substrate is effected subsequently by means of cathode sputtering through applying a radio frequency voltage to the substrate holder.