In a process for the cleaning of dust laden, preferably hot gas with the aid of ceramic filter candles (6) which are open at one end stacked above one another in levels in a raw gas space, and connected to a clean gas space, these filter candles are cleaned by way of pulsed gas, which is blown for a short period of time from the side of the clean gas space and against the direction of gas flow into the filter candles. In the raw gas space the gas to be cleaned and the dust loosened by the cleaning are guided separately so that the loosened dust is guided to the dust removal structure of the raw gas space without once again mixing with the gas to be cleaned. The process is advantageously carried out in a filter housing (10) wherein the filter candles (6) are connected to laterally spaced apart supporting collectors (7). The filter candles (6) in one level are separated from the filter candles (6) in the level thereabove by an ash removal mantle (15). (FIG. 1)