Disclosed is a stable aqueous aldehyde solution that includes: (a) an aldehyde comprising at least one of the following: a 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 - R1 - CHO Diagram 2 R3 - 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 4 and 12 carbon atoms in length； -R1= a hydrocarbon chain between 2 and 12 carbon atoms in length； and -R3= 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, 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 or sodium acetate tri-hydrate and at least one of the following: potassium acetate, lithium acetate, calcium acetate, magnesium acetate, sodium phosphate, sodium tri-phosphate, potassium phosphate, lithium phosphate, zinc perchlorate, zinc sulphate, cupric chlorate and cupric sulphate.
