My wife decided to purchase the Climax Bursts toy cleaner made by Topco Sales. We have always used plain old warm water and soap in the past, as it is just her and I using the products we own or review.

The toy cleaner comes in the usual bottle for their line. It has a rounded head, that pops up to dispense the product. There is a safety seal that is under the cap, so it will have to be unscrewed and the seal removed before use. The color coding is also distinct on this line. The toy cleaner is green, so please don't mix them up! The bottle is approximately 6 inches in height and 1 1/2 in diameter. It contains 4 fluid ounces of cleaner. There is also an expiration date on the bottom of the bottle.

The warning label states: Avoid eye contact. Flush with water and seek a doctor if irritation persists. Do not take internally. Seek medical help or contact a poison control agency immediately. Keep away from children.

The directions for use are simple. Remove batteries and electric supply, if necessary. Apply generous amount, wait 30 seconds, wipe off and wash thoroughly with water. Wipe again to remove moisture. It also states to store at 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

The cleaner, itself, is a clear liquid jell with blue and yellow beads suspended in it. The beads contain vitamin E for moisturizing and protection. That being said, on to the ingredients:

Active ingredient- Triclosan .30%

Inactive ingredients- Acrylates Copolymer, Ascrobyl Palmitate, Cellulose, Chromium Hydroxide Green, Cocamidopropyl Bectaine, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Glyceryl Oleate, Hydroxpropyl methylcellulose, Iron Oxide, Lactose, Mannitol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Sodium Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water.

The ingredient I am going to zero in on is Triclosan. This ingredient is the name of the game for antimicrobials in this product. I don't want to bore you, the reader, with a bunch of scientific mumbo-jumbo, so I will try to put it in everyday terms. This chemical has been in use since 1972. Currently, it is being reviewed by the FDA. It is used in products, such as toothpaste, soap, shaving creams, and mouthwashes. It is the best treatment for MRSA, the flesh eating bacteria.

So whats the problem? This particular chemical is at the forefront of creating the anti-bacterial resistant strains. The studies worry about the resistance crossing over to other chemicals used for antimicrobials. In other words, the more it is used, the bigger the chance to make a mighty "bug", and he will be hard to get rid of.

The second part is the environment. When this chemical degrades due to sunlight, it changes to a dioxin. When we rinse it off and it goes down the drain, it can end up killing the bacteria essential to lakes, rivers and oceans. It kills diatom algae, which are responsible for most of the photosynthetic activity on the planet(making of oxygen).It has also been shown to affect our cousin, the amphibians. Some studies also link it to allergies in kids. At higher concentrations, it is shown to produce a contact allergy.

Now, many countries have wanted to, or are in the process of, banning this chemical. There are alternatives out there, which lessen the risk of super bug and don't hurt the environment to such a degree. Now, until the great FDA make a decision, one way or the other, it's up to the scientists to squabble over and the consumer to make a choice.

Anyway, my research has led me to the point that I can actually say, as far as antimicrobial properties are concerned, if you found a hand sanitizer with .30% or higher, you would be doing the same job, or better, at killing those little buggies. You also have to keep in mind, though, that the toy cleaner also protects the material of the toy. That would be lacking in the average hand sanitizer. The choice is yours to make!

*There really isn't to much I can say that hasn't already been said. I like the fact that this is designed especially for toys, as opposed to soap and water. Even with the research my husband told me about, we still plan on using this, as we have, interchangeably with our soap and water routine.

I like how the smell was not chemically or overpowering. The fact that the Vitamin E moisturizing beads "pamper" our toys is a huge bonus. I was surprised to find out that the expiration date was for 2013, with a two year shelf life. It makes for a great buy.

It feels almost "silky" when using, and at times not all the beads burst. That is easily remedied by rinsing off and then, drying with a cloth.*

We have used this a handful of times and this does do its job. Both of us still seem to prefer our mild soap and water routine over using a cleaning product. This toy cleaner is usually used when in a hurry and we need a quick cleaning of a toy.

The fact that it does help in those fast clean-ups, makes it highly probable that we purchase it again. The bottle does last longer than I expected, we have only used about half the bottle.