The invention relates to a method for washing laundry (10) in a laundry washing machine (1), the laundry washing machine (1) comprising a washing tub (3) external to a washing drum (4) suited to receive said laundry (10), a water supply system (15) suitable to convey water (W) to the washing tub (3), a water flow sensor (16) associated to the water supply system (5) for measuring an amount of water introduced into the washing tub (3), a liquid level sensor device (19) suitable for detecting an overflow level (Lo) of liquid in the washing tub (3) and to communicate the reaching of the overflow level (Lo) to a control unit (22) which causes stopping of said machine (1) accordingly. The method comprises one or more steps of conveying water (W) from the water supply system (15) to the washing tub (3) wherein the quantity of water introduced inside the washing tub (3) is controlled according to the values of the liquid level (Ld) detected by the water flow sensor (16). The method comprises detecting the liquid level (Ld) inside the washing tub (3) by means of the liquid level sensor device (19) and if the liquid level (Ld) reaches a safety level (Ls) which is below the overflow level (Lo) then the quantity of water introduced inside the washing tub (3) is controlled according to the values of the liquid level (Ld) detected by the liquid level sensor device (19) instead of according to the values detected by said water flow sensor (16).