Hotels suggest guidelines for tipping housekeeping

Dear Heloise: I have a question about tipping at a hotel: Does the maid who cleaned the room yesterday get the tip I leave, or the maid coming in today?— Loma J. in South Dakota

Loma, I checked with a couple of major hotels, and here were their suggestions for how to handle tipping:

Tip every day, but do not tip if the service was poor.

The going rate is about $1-$2 per day; $3-$4 for better hotels.

Place the cash in an envelope (no change) and label it for maid service or housekeeping.

You also can just wrap it in a sheet of paper, but be sure to label it.

Leave it in an obvious place.

—Heloise

MESSY STAINLESS STEEL Dear Heloise: I recently purchased a home that came with stainless-steel appliances. They are a mess! I’ve tried multiple cleaners, and nothing seems to help. Do you have any home remedy that might bring these poor things back to life?—Carol B., via email

Carol, there are different grades of stainless steel, so I recommend doing a patch test first. Don’t let a cleaning product dry on an appliance, and remember that less product is better than too much; too much often causes streaking. Wipe in the direction of the steel’s grain. It’s best to use a microfiber cloth on stainless steel. If your appliances have a matte finish, they will never have that shiny appearance.

Try olive oil or baby oil. Pour a small amount of oil on a soft cloth, and wipe in the direction of the grain. Buff with a soft.

It also has been recommended that you use 50/50 water and vinegar to clean the appliance first, then try an oil polish. Some people use rubbing alcohol on their stainless-steel kitchen sinks.—Heloise

GREEN ONIONS

Dear Heloise: In the spring, I plant a pot of green onions on my deck. I buy a bunch at the grocery store and cut off the white ends, about 1 inch into the green. I make a hole for each stalk, plant and water well. The stalk will grow almost immediately, and I can snip the fresh green onions as needed.—Gayle P., Colorado Springs, Colo.

LUGGAGE TAGS

Dear Heloise: If you work out of an office, put your business address or business card in the luggage tag, not your home address. I felt it was safer for my family if lost luggage was delivered to my office rather than my home.—Robert T. in Los Angeles