I use a sponge, so does my wife. And yes, sometimes we do shower together
. I had a large shower with 2 shower heads built for that exact purpose.
I hate wash-cloths. As for bacteria, well, that's what the soap is for. As a kid, I was taught that a certain amount of expose to bacteria & such builds the immune system. You can never avoid all bacteria, so it makes sense to me.
That which does not kill me, makes me stronger!
LeRoux