HELOISE Improvement of public rest rooms has stalled

Dear Readers: It's that time again: The Heloise Annual State of Public Bathrooms report. Nothing has changed since my last column.
This year, I have traveled across the country, from Washington and Wisconsin to Texas, New York, Florida, Tennessee and many other states!
I'm talking about airport, restaurant, hotel, gas-station and medical-building public rest rooms. While many were clean and in order, others were disgusting! Most businesses do their best to keep things clean and picked up, but the public (that's some of you, folks) seems to think that it's all right to be a slob when not at home. What are people thinking who drop paper on the floor and don't pick it up? I know it's dirty down there, but you can use a paper towel or tissue, and you won't touch any germs. I also have a personal request for people who design public rest rooms: Please have tissue seat covers available. If not in each stall, at least one somewhere in the area. It would cut down on the mess. Heloise
P.S. And while we are on this subject, washing your hands with soap and water is still the best defense against picking up bad bacteria!
Dear Heloise: I love bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches, but they aren't on my low-fat diet. So, I found that if I put the lettuce and tomato on the bread and then sprinkle it with some fat-free imitation bacon bits, I get to have my favorite sandwich but not the fat! Sandra from Texas
Dear Heloise: In order to alleviate the stress of wearing and adjusting support hose, my friend suggested that I wear kitchen rubber gloves when I pull on the hose, and it is a miracle -- the hose slide up and stay in place for the whole day. The hose also last much longer, since fingernails don't snag them! Helen Kukic, Lancaster, Calif.
Dear Heloise: After searching in vain in various stores for something on which to hang my jewelry, the idea came to me recently to use a man's tie rack -- the bar type made of wood with metal trim that has 24 small, movable metal hooks. I fastened it to one bedroom wall and hung all my chains and strings of beads on it. It makes a very pretty wall decoration, as well as being practical. Now I have no more tangled chains or beads, and it's even fun rearranging them at times for a different effect. Lillian in Washington
Dear Heloise: Slice whole apples into two halves. Take a melon baller and dish out the center core. Each piece yields a half sphere. Very neat and precise. Todd Butler, Aberdeen, S.D.
King Features Syndicate