Dear Heloise: Why is it that no one sends thank-you notes or cards anymore? I taught my daughters to always write a note of appreciation to let people know you received their gift and, if possible, how you planned to use it or something nice about the gift.

Unfortunately, my daughters never taught their own children to do this simple task. Four months after I sent my granddaughter a nice gift for her birthday, she sent me a note that read, “I got your gift. Thanks. Next year, I’d rather have money.” She’s 15 years old.

Do other people have these problems, or am I expecting more from them than I should? When my daughter called me last week to chat, I asked her to pass along a message to my granddaughter: I said I’d send her money when she learns to write a decent thank-you card. — Angela K., Jacksonville, North Carolina

Angela, not at all. I think a nice thank-you note is always in order, but asking for money in place of a gift is really bad manners. — Heloise

MESH BAGS

Dear Heloise: I love those plastic mesh bags that some fruit and vegetables come in. I use them to scrub pots, pans, kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks and the bathtub. They do a great job of cleaning and never scratch the surface of things! — Russel H., Niagara Falls, New York

SWEET-SMELLING KITCHEN

Dear Heloise: Want a fresh-smelling kitchen? Grow herbs on the windowsill, or buy some attractive, small planters that can either be hung on the wall, by a cabinet, or in a hanging basket. I have a mint plant that hangs over my kitchen sink and five ceramic planters against the wall with various herbs. These come in handy all year round for cooking. — Sally L., Provo, Utah

VACUUM YOUR RUGS

Dear Heloise: I sell rugs and carpeting, and I have a few hints for your readers on how to help keep their rugs looking good for a long time:

— Vacuum all your rugs at least a couple of times a week. Those tiny grains of dirt act as little saws on the fibers of your rug. Vacuuming doesn’t ruin your rug, but those tiny bits of dirt, skin cells and dust will make your rug look dingy. It will eventually smell bad, too, if you don’t vacuum regularly. A brush and a beater bar vacuum are the best for most rugs.

— Once or twice a year, have your rugs professionally cleaned to pull out deeply hidden dirt and fluff up the fibers.

— If you like to kick off your shoes as soon as you get home, that’s fine, but wear a pair of socks around the house. The oil and body moisture on your feet will be absorbed by your rugs and cause matting, which will make your rug look dirty. If you don’t want to wear socks, then use slippers around the house.

— A good pad under your rug will extend the life of your rug and save the wooden and tile floors from wear and tear. — Mark F., Green Bay, Wisconsin

COMBINATION LOCK FEATURE

Dear Heloise: I recently installed a combination lock that has a newer and nicer feature. It had a fingerprint sensor that allows you to bypass the buttons and open the lock with your finger- or thumbprint. It’s even faster and easier to use than my older model. Just something for your readers to consider.

I enjoy your column in the Los Angeles Daily News. — D.C., in California

DISPOSE OF MEAT CORRECTLY

Dear Heloise: As the chief cook and bottle washer in my home, I have developed some techniques that I wanted to share with your readers:

— Food waste that can’t be put in the disposal, such as bones, should be put in the small plastic meat bags that you get at grocery stores. Tie a knot in the top to minimize odors from the trash can.

— Put a plastic tie bag in the trash can. When you take it outside, be sure to pull the cords tight, double the top down, and tie it to the main bag, with the plastic cords tied three times tightly to starve ants and flies.

— Don’t send fats or butter down the disposal where they can stick to the pipes and clog them. Instead, wipe up fats with a paper towel and put it in the small plastic meat bag.

— My final hint is to put some bleach on your toothbrush once a month to give it a good cleaning and whiten it up. — J.P.J., in California