PURPOSE: To accelerate considerably the stabilization of washing water by adding a specified compound sequestering properly iron ions in the washing water in a washing stage.

CONSTITUTION: When an imagewise exposed color silver halide photographic sensitive material is continuously developed, at least one kind of compound represented by formula I is added in a bleach-fixing stage or the following washing stage. In the formula, M is H and a part thereof may be substituted completely with an Li, Na or ammonium ion or such ions. The amount of the compound added is 1×10-5W1.0mol per 1l washing water. Washing is preferably carried out by a countercurrent washing system using 2W5 tanks, and the amount of washing water required is about 50W1,000ml per 1m2 silver halide sensitive material.