In water production plants using membrane processes, contact with chemicals such as chlorine plays an important role in membrane ageing. This experimental study was aimed at gaining a better understanding of the effect of hypochlorite cleaning solutions on the properties of a polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane. Accelerated ageing of the membrane was simulated by soaking it in chlorine solutions and the mechanical properties of the membrane were monitored versus soaking time. An oxidation mechanism is validated which involves the catalytic effect of dissolved metal ions and the inhibitor effect of an antioxidant when these are present in soaking solutions. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.