my tips for cleaning makeup brushes and tools

I am very diligent about cleaning my makeup brushes and sponges every week because the thought of touching my face and eyes with germ-infested tools is utterly cringe-worthy.  And let's not even talk about sharing tools - eek!  (If you are dealing with random break-outs, the culprit might be dirty makeup brushes.)

So how do I wash my brushes/sponges?

I've tried various ways of cleaning but I am really enjoying my current routine which I learned from a youtuber - Amy Macedo.  Not only is it effective but it's super cheap.  I now use Zote - a laundry soap.  (I bought mine on amazon for about $3.)  

Current routine:

•  I wet each brush with lukewarm water and gently run it on the soap.  
• I gently brush the bristles on the top of my hand so they get sudsy.  If the brush is very dirty I will do this a few times and gently squeeze the bristles.  (For a sponge, I rub it on the top of my hand and squeeze several times.)
• I rinse the brushes or sponge under the running faucet until they rinse clean.
• I will  gently squeeze the bristles/sponge on a clean towel and then set them to dry over a table or dresser ledge (with the bristles hanging over the ledge).  There are nifty brush holders for drying makeup brushes but I've never seen the need to invest in one.

I've noticed that this routine is faster than my previous routines and my brushes feel a lot cleaner.  I will usually wash everything I used during a week on Saturday or Sunday.  During the week, I'll spot-clean with my tea-tree oil spray (just fill a dispenser with clean water and a few drops of tea-tree oil) or alcohol spray (same concept but with rubbing alcohol).

Other methods I've used:

•  Dish detergent and a few drops of olive oil - I used this method for a while, and it is effective, but a little messier.  The use of olive oil allegedly 'conditions' the brushes, but I can't vouch for that. I do feel that the Zote soap gets my brushes just a tad cleaner.
• Beauty Blender solid - This solid cleansing balm is very effective for the Beauty Blender and other similar sponges, but it's expensive (about $18 for 1 ounce).   I also didn't really like using it with my brushes; not sure why.
• Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner - This is probably the fastest and most effective cleanser I've ever used - it's literally like magic, but the product smells very chemically so I was concerned that prolonged use would negatively impact my natural hair brushes.  It's also expensive (about $36 for a large bottle) and it goes fast.  I would consider using this for spot treatments during the week.  Also, I imagine makeup artists would prefer this since they would have to clean their brushes very frequently and quickly.
• I've tried other cleansers (e.g., Sephora, Bare Minerals, etc.), but I didn't really enjoy any of them.

It's probably a matter of preference how each person wants to clean their tools.  The real point is to wash them consistently.

Bonus:  I can also use the Zote soap to do laundry when I travel.  Just cut a little chunk out and put it in a ziplock or whatever little container you have.  This is how I get away without checking in luggage on long trips.