A method that makes provision for a volume of a batch of laundry to be ascertained in a water-removal press downstream of the washing machine. The volume of the batch of laundry can be reliably determined in a simple manner in the water-removal press, without the performance of the washing machine being adversely affected as a result. On the basis of the subsequently ascertained volume of the batch of laundry, the weight of the batches of laundry with which the washing machine is then to be loaded can be corrected such that the said batches of laundry and also subsequent batches of laundry have a volume which at least approximately corresponds to the receiving volume of the washing machine.