(57) Liquid bleaching and brightening compositions are provided in which a polymeric matrix stably suspends a fluorescent whitening agent, and, optionally, pigment particles. A particularly preferred composition includes an aqueous solution having sodium hypochlorite in an amount of from about 3.5 wt.% to about 6.2 wt.%, an anionic or nonionic surfactant in an amount of from about 0.03 wt. % to about 0.3 wt.%, a polymer in an amount of from about 0.3 wt.% to about 2.0 wt.%, a fluorescent whitening agent in an amount of from about 0.01 wt.% to about 0.2 wt.%, and, if desired, ultramarine blue particles in an amount of from about 0.01 wt. % to 0.2 wt.%, the fluorescent whitening agent and ultramarine blue particles being stably suspended and dispersed in the aqueous solution via the polymer.