A stable aqueous aldehyde solution that includes: (a) an aldehyde comprising at least one of the following: monoaldehyde (Diagram 1), a dialdehyde (Diagram 2) and a cyclic aldehyde (Diagram 3) in a 0.001% to 25% m/v concentration: R - CHO Diagram 1 OHC - R 1 - CHO Diagram 2 R 3 - CHO Diagram 3 and wherein: R = hydrogen, a straight hydrocarbon chain between 1 and 12 carbon atoms in length, or a branched hydrocarbon chain between 3 and 12 carbon atoms in length; -R 1 = a hydrocarbon chain between 2 and 12 carbon atoms in length; and -R 3 = a cyclic hydrocarbon having 5 or 6 carbon atoms. (b) a surfactant or detergent chosen from any one of the following: an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant, a nonylphenol surfactant, sulphonic acid, sodium lauryl ethyl sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, a twin chain quaternary ammonium compound and cocopropyldiamide (CPAD); (c) a sufficient amount of a pH modifier to bring the pH of the solution to within a 6.0 to 8.5 range; and (d) a buffer comprising sodium acetate tri-hydrate and potassium acetate. (a) an aldehyde comprising at least one of the following: monoaldehyde (Diagram 1), a dialdehyde (Diagram 2) and a cyclic aldehyde (Diagram 3) in a 0.001% to 25% m/v concentration: R - CHO Diagram 1 OHC - R 1 - CHO Diagram 2 R 3 - CHO Diagram 3 and wherein: R = hydrogen, a straight hydrocarbon chain between 1 and 12 carbon atoms in length, or a branched hydrocarbon chain between 3 and 12 carbon atoms in length; -R 1 = a hydrocarbon chain between 2 and 12 carbon atoms in length; and -R 3 = a cyclic hydrocarbon having 5 or 6 carbon atoms. (b) a surfactant or detergent chosen from any one of the following: an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant, a nonylphenol surfactant, sulphonic acid, sodium lauryl ethyl sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, a twin chain quaternary ammonium compound and cocopropyldiamide (CPAD); (c) a sufficient amount of a pH modifier to bring the pH of the solution to within a 6.0 to 8.5 range; and (d) a buffer comprising sodium acetate tri-hydrate and potassium acetate. monoaldehyde (Diagram 1), a dialdehyde (Diagram 2) and a cyclic aldehyde (Diagram 3) in a 0.001% to 25% m/v concentration: R - CHO Diagram 1 OHC - R 1 - CHO Diagram 2 R 3 - CHO Diagram 3 and wherein: R = hydrogen, a straight hydrocarbon chain between 1 and 12 carbon atoms in length, or a branched hydrocarbon chain between 3 and 12 carbon atoms in length; -R 1 = a hydrocarbon chain between 2 and 12 carbon atoms in length; and -R 3 = a cyclic hydrocarbon having 5 or 6 carbon atoms. R = hydrogen, a straight hydrocarbon chain between 1 and 12 carbon atoms in length, or a branched hydrocarbon chain between 3 and 12 carbon atoms in length; -R 1 = a hydrocarbon chain between 2 and 12 carbon atoms in length; and -R 3 = a cyclic hydrocarbon having 5 or 6 carbon atoms. (b) a surfactant or detergent chosen from any one of the following: an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant, a nonylphenol surfactant, sulphonic acid, sodium lauryl ethyl sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, a twin chain quaternary ammonium compound and cocopropyldiamide (CPAD); (c) a sufficient amount of a pH modifier to bring the pH of the solution to within a 6.0 to 8.5 range; and (d) a buffer comprising sodium acetate tri-hydrate and potassium acetate.