Freshening compositions comprising a malodor binding polymer, a malodor counteractant comprising at least one aliphatic aldehyde, and an aqueous carrier, wherein the composition is essentially free of any material that would soil or stain fabric and methods thereof are provided. In some embodiments, the malodor binding polymer comprises a homopolymeric polyethylenimine having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 2,000,000. Such freshening compositions may be used to reduce malodor and/or microbes on inanimate surfaces or in the air.
