A printing unit of a rotary printing press includes a forme cylinder. An inking unit interacts with the forme cylinder and has a plurality of inking rolls. A dampening unit also interacts with the forme cylinder and has a plurality of dampening rolls. A washing device interacts with at least one of the inking rolls and dampening rolls for washing the inking unit and/or the dampening unit. The inking unit includes a plurality of ink applicator rolls which can be placed directly onto the forme cylinder during printing operation. The dampening unit has at least one dampening rotation applicator roll that can also be placed directly onto the forme cylinder during printing operations. In a washing position, one of the plurality of ink application rolls and the dampening rotation applicator roll are brought directly into contact with each other.