Abstract: The invention provides a method for the application of a bleaching agent to a substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the substrate in an aqueous system comprising a liquid bleaching agent in a closed container, the treatment being carried out at a ratio of liquor to substrate which does not exceed 3:1. Typically, the method is applied to the bleaching of textile fibres and may optionally comprise a bleaching and scouring treatment. The invention also provides a method for the removal of surplus bleaching agents following the bleaching treatment, the method comprising not more than three aqueous wash-off treatments of the substrate. In addition to facilitating the use of much reduced liquor levels, the method also allows for significant reductions to be achieved in usage levels of bleaching agents, auxiliary agents and rinsing agents, thereby reducing generation of waste liquors requiring disposal.