My husband and I don't agree, maybe you can help!
He grew up with his mom using a sponge at the kitchen sink, to wipe down everything from food off plates (before putting in dishwasher) to the countertops, and also to use to clean dishes. He read that you can easily disinfect sponges by putting them in the microwave or dishwasher. Is this true? If so, how many times can you do this before you throw it away? The sponge looks rather nasty after just a week. Also, is it okay to use the same sponge to wipe off countertops AND dirty dishes? What about to CLEAN dishes, too? Seems rather gross to me!
I grew up with my mom using paper towels, which seems wasteful. I thought a scrubber is good for wiping off dirty dishes before putting in dishwasher, but do these items (with bristles) need to be disinfected, too? If so, how?
And, what about dish towels. These can easily be thrown in the washing machine after one use, but it is difficult to clean dishes with.
Thanks for any information, and to put an end to our little friendly squabble!