Q. When guests are leaving our house they sometimes ask: ‘Would you like me to strip my bed?’ The truthful answer is often: ‘No, because you are very clean and only stayed one night and I may decide to reuse your bed for one of the hulking slob friends of my son who stay.’ But if I say this, the guest might wonder if they went into ‘pre-used’ sheets. Worst-case scenario, they do not ask and turn up downstairs with an armful of bedding. What should I do?

– C.W., Stoke Abbott, Dorset

A. When asked by a guest if they should strip the sheets, reply: ‘Please don’t. Our daily has such little self-esteem as it is, she........

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