How I Keep My Beauty Sponge Looking Like New!

As an avid user of beauty sponges to apply my base make-up (you can read about why I prefer the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge to the original BeautyBlender here!) I like to think I've got keeping my sponge clean down to a fine art. I'm sure we've all heard a thousand times why it's important to keep our tools clean - but in short, you can't expect to apply your make-up and have it look nice if your brushes and sponges have a build-up of weeks or (god forbid!) months worth of make-up - and that's not to mention the bacteria you're rubbing all over your face. So, here is how I like to take care of my beauty sponges!
I tend to wash my sponge before each use, or at least every other use - as I'm using it damp anyway, it makes sense to me! It only takes a minute or so and I really can tell the difference in how my make-up applies. I find I get a smoother application and my base is less prone to looking streaky or cakey, which is never a good look.
I start by soaking the sponge thoroughly in warm water (the sponge does swell in size at this point!), then squeezing out most of the excess - it needs to be wet rather than damp, but not dripping wet. I then add a pump of anti-bacterial handwash; I'm using one from Sainsbury's at the moment, which cost me less than a pound. You can, of course, get dedicated brush cleansers, but you can read here about why the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Gel wasn't for me.
It's then a case of gently rolling the sponge between my hands, using my fingertips to rub the handwash in well and work out all the make-up and general grime. I tend to do this for about thirty seconds, then rinse out in warm water, which I do until the water runs clear and there's no more foam coming from the sponge. Because I usually wash the sponge daily or every other day at most, one wash is usually sufficient for me - if I happen to have gone a couple more days (if I've been away for the weekend or something) then I'll repeat the process to be sure the sponge is completely clean.
Et voilà! One good-as-new make-up sponge. I think this just goes to show you don't need huge amounts of time or any fancy products to take good care of your beauty sponges - it's one of those things where, if you get into good habits and keep on top of it, it barely takes any time at all! How often do you wash your beauty sponges? Do you have a set method?

xo