Solvent extraction with organic solvents and enzymatic scouring with pectinases have been performed on ring- and rotor-spun cotton yarns and compared to the conventional scouring process in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The effect of the different scouring methods on the properties of the yarns as well as on further bleaching procedures with hydrogen peroxide have been studied. The influence of specific metal ions on hydrogen peroxide bleaching has also been addressed.