The invention provides a colon cleansing solution comprising: a) 300 to 2000 mmol per liter ascorbate anion provided by ascorbic acid, one or more salts of ascorbic acid, or a mixture thereof; and b) 10 to 200 g per liter polyethylene glycol. The invention also provides methods and kits associated with, or making use of the solutions. The invention also provides a method of cleansing the colon of a subject comprising: —administering to the subject an effective amount of a first cleansing solution; and then after a time interval —administering to the subject an effective amount of a second cleansing solution, where in the two cleansing solutions are as described in the specification.