This study deals with cleaning of particle-loaded filter media by means of continuous and pulsed flows of water. Earlier studies have shown that the detachment of particulate impurities from filter media is influenced by time. Thus, the fraction of particles successfully removed by the flow initially increases with the period of exposure to the flow, reaching a constant level only after some time. The detachment mechanisms occurring in this phase, for instance, include rolling, slipping, or direct detachment of particles normal to the contact radius. These mechanisms are a function of the particle position on the filter medium. Particles not removed immediately but first rolling or slipping over the surface will be removed after a sufficiently long period of exposure to the flow. In this study, the individual mechanisms of particle detachment under continuous and pulsating flow through the filter media are shown experimentally. In addition to critical cleaning spots of the fabric, changes in position were detected and analyzed as a function of filter geometry. For this purpose, the filter medium was subdivided into four segments, and their cleanability was examined. It was seen that the critical sites are located at the highest points in the fabric. There is also a connection between the degree of cleaning of the respective segment and the reposition of particles within the segment. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.