A control method is provided for a filter system, which includes at least one filter element (2). The method includes continuously recording a total energy consumption (EG) during a filtration cycle (22) of the filter system. The total energy consumption (EG) includes at least of the energy consumption (EB) for a physical cleaning (24) and the energy consumption (EP) for the subsequent production cycle (23) up to a predefined, in particular current point in time. The method further includes computing a relative energy consumption (Erel) by way of division of the recorded total energy consumption (EG) by a net permeate volume (QN) which has been produced during the filtration cycle (22) up to the predefined point in time and starting a physical cleaning (24) in dependence on the relative energy consumption or of a characteristic value derived from this.