I'd never use 'to the left' or 'to the right' about turning a knob or a nut. It's always struck me as an unhelpful description. I would always use 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise'. But you still have to adjust for perspective - as anybody who's reached down under a car engine and worked out which way to unscrew the oil drain plug will know.

But I know people who have no natural feeling for which way nuts tighten. They just try one way then the other. They probably didn't have Meccano sets as children.

When instructing people helming boats, especially with tillers, it's best to avoid using 'right' and 'left'. Many a collision has resulted...