A method for desalinating a salt-containing polymer (SP) comprising a polyaryl ether having a softening temperature TS and a salt (S), comprising the steps of a) providing the salt-containing polymer (SP) at a first temperature T1 above the softening temperature TS of the polyaryl ether, b) contacting the salt-containing polymer (SP) provided in step a) with an extractant (E) to obtain a desalinated polymer (DP) comprising the polyaryl ether, and a salt-containing extractant (SE) comprising the extractant (E) and the salt (S).