Can I and how do I bleach egyptian cotton?

[PavlovtheCat]

I have white 100% egyptian cotton bed linen in great need of a freshen up, slight off colour now. I have used 90degree wash, left in the sunshine for a long time, used whiteners, soda crystals and it is still not as bright as it should be any more.

Can I use a bit of bleach to give it a bit of brightening?

Or, any other tips to brighten it gratefully received!
TIA

I find the ecover laundry bleach to be fab.

oh I did not think of using specific laundry bleach. I will go and buy some!

I find, for example that DHs pillow case is slightly more 'yellow' white than mine

Use twice your usual dose of detergant on a 60 wash, extended cycle if you have one. My whites used to yellow but I do this when it happens, I'd tried bleaching etc and failed too.

thank you, i will try that too. And when I said 90degree wash, i of course meant 60degree. Would be too afraid of ruining them on 90degrees!

It's obviously clean! Try a blue rinse if it's still obtainable, used to be called "Ricketts Blue" it must be around in some form or another.

hehe yes, very clean, just doesn't look it i will look out for the blue rinse! I do feel a bit old posting on MN about how to whiten my whites