The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends cleaning dirty dishes and cutlery immediately. You should not allow leftover food to dry on your plate, knife, or fork.
The sink, dishcloth, and dishwashing brush should be kept clean – and “if possible, use hot water with sufficient detergent," says the BfR. If you have larger quantities of dishes, you should also change the washing water from time to time. Rinsing the washed dishes under running water can further reduce the number of germs on the surfaces, according to the BFR. The dishcloths and tea towels should be washed in the washing machine with a universal or heavy-duty detergent containing bleach (e.g. as powder, granules, or tablets) in a program that would actually reach 60 degrees, advises the BFR. After washing the dishes by hand, you can then drain them using appropriate precautions and let them air dry. Or rub them dry with a clean and dry tea towel.