The machine has a drum with a perforated wall capable of receiving a load of clothes, a motor for rotating the drum at variable speeds, and a spraying device capable of introducing liquid into the drum. The method comprises performing an impregnation (M) with an amount (A) of liquid by means of several spraying steps (A1, A2,...An) for spraying the liquid on the load of clothes while the drum rotates at a medium rotational speed (V2) sufficient to keep the load of clothes stationary with respect to the rotating drum but insufficient to extract liquid out of the load of clothes by the centrifugal force generated, and performing, between every two of said spraying steps, a tumbling step for tumbling the load of clothes at a low rotational speed (V1) less than 1G. After the impregnation (M), a centrifugation (N) at a high rotational speed (V3) is performed.