How do you clean a real bath sponge

[tigerlelly]

Someone gave me a real sponge to use in the bath but I have aways used synthetic to protect the marine environment. Now that I have it I may as well use it but how do I clean it? I understand they start to feel slimey after a couple of weeks.
Thanks

[heathfield]

Rinse and squeeze several times in cold water. Put a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a small bowl and top it up with warm water. Soak the sponge for a couple of hours. Squeeze, and set it aside to dry out. Done.

[Fitzer]

As per previous answer but note the use of the word squeeze, never wring out a natural sponge, it will just disintegrate.