this present invention relates to methods for preparing premium or near - premium brightness pulps for towel and tissue applications from fiber sources comprising substantial amounts of lignin - containing pulp and chemical pulp while controlling fines , scale and anionic trash . these methods use alkaline hydroxide in combination with peroxide and oxygen for initial bleaching stages followed by treatment with a peroxide activating agent to convert residual peroxide in the pulp into peracetic acid followed by a final reductive bleaching stage .