A washing machine has a drum for washing laundry therein, and a drum-receiving container in which the drum is arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation and at the bottom of which is provided a container drain. A valve is arranged at the container drain on the drum-receiving container, which valve seals the drum-receiving container at the bottom in watertight and airtight manner. In the upper region of the drum-receiving container is provided an air inlet which is closable in airtight manner by way of an air inlet valve and by way of two oppositely arranged nonreturn valves.