A method and apparatus for cleaning or carding textile fibers between a fine cleaning or carding drum (2) with clothing (7) fixed thereon and carding elements (5) surrounding said drum, a clothing (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) also being provided thereon. The teeth (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) of the carding elements (5) are so provided differently in the direction of movement (8) of the rotating drum (2) that the tooth (9), for example, has what is known as a negative carding direction with a relatively large angle (.alpha.) and the tooth (14) a positive carding direction with a relatively small angle (.alpha.) and the teeth therebetween have different attack angles as shown in FIG. 3. This gives different cleaning or carding effects within a predetermined peripheral zone of the drum.