DEAR HELOISE: I’m not done with that butter knife! After making a sandwich, I like to set the knife on the edge of the sink instead of sending it straight to the dishwasher. A knife with just a light smear of butter on it often comes in handy again later for toast, another sandwich, or a quick snack. This habit keeps me from washing the same utensil twice in one day and frees up a little room in the dishwasher.

I make sure that the knife stays in a clean spot and doesn’t sit there overnight, because nobody wants old butter hanging around. It’s a simple system, but it works well. Sometimes the smartest kitchen tricks look like laziness to everyone else.

• Bill Curran,

in Kenosha, Wisconsin

DEAR HELOISE: A reader wrote in about brass kitchen handles turning dark after 25 years of use and that it’s almost impossible to get them shiny again. The reader asked if there was a way to restore the finish. Here’s what I recommend:

You should start by finding out whether the handles are solid brass or brass-plated because the cleaning method matters. Start by pulling off a single handle and holding a magnet to it. A magnet that clings tells you that the piece is brass-plated rather than solid brass, which means that aggressive scrubbing can strip the coating right off. Before anything else, give the hardware a good wash in warm, soapy water by using a soft cloth to cut through built-up grease.

Solid brass handles can handle more attention. Reach for a dedicated brass polish, or mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste, then work it in with a gentle cloth using light, circular strokes. Make sure that each handle is thoroughly dried.

If the finish still looks blotchy, the old protective coating may have worn off, and refinishing it might help more than polishing.

— Carol W., in California

DEAR HELOISE: Dingy grout can make a clean bathroom look tired, and I used to attack these stains with whatever cleaner was closest. A bleach-based toilet bowl cleaner may brighten white grout in some spots, but strong formulas can irritate your lungs, damage nearby surfaces, and discolor colored grout. Now I treat grout more carefully.

I apply a grout-safe bleach cleaner or an oxygen-bleach paste with an old toothbrush, let it sit for a short time, then scrub and rinse well. Good ventilation matters, and gloves help, too. I also test one small hidden area first because grout and tile finishes vary more than people think.

• J.L.O., in Dayton