I always clearly explained that I am a foreigner and do not know how to do this or that and I was given ample information.
The one time it did not work is when I had breakfast in a diner in Arizona and left my table after paying. A lady (also a customer) dropped le and time me how come I can leave without bringing my plate back. I was so surprised that I asked "this is what you do here in restaurants? Cleaning after yourselves?". She got mad and told me how I was misbehaved and everything.
She was clearly a weirdo, though.