Sponge vs dishcloth: Which one is grosser?

Both can be breeding grounds for bacteria , but proper cleaning can mitigate the risks. People love to debate cleaning questions: Do you need to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher? Can you use soap on a cast-iron skillet? Yes or no to fabric softeners? And, perhaps the most pressing, in terms of actual germs: Is it better to clean dishes and kitchen surfaces with a sponge or a dishcloth? The short answer is that each has its pros and cons - and both can get nasty pretty quickly. “They’re both just as bad because they hold moisture,” says Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona in the United States.

“Basically, a sponge or a dishrag is a happy home for bacteria.”.