First note- as far as sanitizers go, I am assuming you are not using bleach, and have learned from this forum the value of using things like StarSan.
As said above, if it is going into the boil then you don't have to sanitize things. Filth is the real issue, like if the spoon got in dirt or last night's marinara sauce spill on the kitchen counter.
For storage, just clean the items, store like you would anything used for a kitchen (away so it doesn't get dirty, but not paranoid sealing), and then just sanitize the next time you are going to use it. I only let things soak when I am brewing or bottling, like a bottling wand before I actually attach it or the siphon tubing.
If you want to set something down and keep it sanitized, get a piece of aluminum foil, give it a quick wash or spray with your sanitizer, and use that as a surface to put things on.
If you just don;t want to be mixing up sanitizer over and over again, then fill a spray bottle with your sanitizer (again, assuming StarSan or similar), and keep that with your brew stuff. A couple spritzes and you are good to go!