In a method for cleaning out defects from a yarn moved along the longitudinal direction thereof, measured values of a property of the yarn along the longitudinal direction are captured. Values of a yarn parameter (M) are determined from the measured values. An event field (6) is provided, which is formed by the yarn parameter (M) and an extension (L) of yarn parameter values in the longitudinal direction and which is divided into more than two regions (71-75), of which at least one region (71, 73-75) specifies allowed events and at least one other region (72) specifies disallowed events. The values of the yarn parameter (M) are classified together with the extension (L) thereof in the longitudinal direction (x) in the event field (6). The invention is particularly suited for cleaning fancy yarn, wherein additional allowed regions (73-75) prevent cleaning of the desired effects.