I am the queen of clean...
a sponge and a dish-cloth are two different things, with different uses.
I never feel that either of these are harboring germs or wet and yucky, because I am OCD about making sure they are clean and wrung out as dry as possible.
Then hang the dish cloth to dry, and set the sponge aside to dry.
(yes, when left wet and nasty this would be a problem...)
And, these are easily disinfected if it does become necessary.
I never would think to use a sponge to clean a counter.
Just by nature, this is not effective and would leave the counter to wet and smeared.
And I would also not think to use a sponge for everyday cleaning with that type of cleaner.
Yes, I might need a scrubby sponge for a certain heaver job with a cleaner, but either it can be totally rinsed and clean, or it gets trashed.
I do sometimes go behind my husband and my son... They do not have my queen of clean sensibilities!!!
With them, it is wipe, smear, throw the cloth or sponge or now-nasty hand/dish towel to the side.
They're done.
Men!!! Hahahahahaha!!!!
Now, what is germy and musty and DOES need disinfected are our dish towels.
They do not dry quickly, so they can stay damp... And, they are not necessarily used just for clean dishes or hands.
They can sometimes start to get that yucky smell... Even after thrown in the wash!
I have bought some white dish towels so that they can be washed with beach.