Abstract: A bleach composition comprises a peroxygen bleach source (for instance hydrogen peroxide, a perborate or a percarbonate salt) and an activator of the formula I: ##STR1## in which X is O or S; one of E and G is --A-- and the other is --N(R.sup.2)--;A is --O-- or --S--;R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-50 alkylene group (including cyclo alkylene), optionally interrupted by an arylene group and/or by one or more ether, ester, anhydride, thioether, secondary or tertiary amine, amide or imide linkage, an arylene group or an alkarylene group;R.sup.2, is selected from H, alkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl and aryl;R.sup.3 is alkyl, aralkyl, alkaryl or aryl, or, when E is --N(R.sup.2)--, H;in which R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can be joined so as to form a heterocyclic ring with the atoms to which they are attached, and/or in which R.sup.1 can be joined with R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 ; andL is a leaving group which may optionally be joined to any of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3.