DEAR HELOISE: Yes, yes, yes! I was so pleased to see your note about the way that some people use the word “like”! For the past couple of years, I’ve had to listen to the way that some people consistently say “the L word” over and over, which is worse than nails on a chalkboard for me!

Even worse yet, some well-known people — including but not limited to actors, entertainers, talk show hosts, and more (whom we might expect to know better) — are as guilty of using it as some 7-year-old. What’s happened? What’s with the “dumbing down” of Americans?

• Sandy C., via email

Sandy, here at Heloise Central, we get tons of letters asking why our educational institutions have allowed certain changes in education that make us appear uneducated and lazy, instead of requiring students to improve their skills. Does anyone out there want to add their opinion on the American educational system? If you are a schoolteacher, we’d love to hear your views on this subject.

• Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: How do I get mold out of my washcloths without taking out the color? Everything I find online includes bleach, which ruins my washcloths. Also, how do I prevent it from happening in the first place? I wring them out as tight as I can after using them and hang them up to dry on the top of my shower enclosure.

• Cathy B., via email

Cathy, first, wash all your washcloths in hot water with 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Don’t add soap or softener. Next, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the wet washcloths and wash them again in hot water to neutralize the odor. Afterward, dry them immediately in a hot dryer.

Don’t leave the washcloths in the dryer and make sure that they’re completely dry. Don’t use a washcloth for more than a day or two before washing it again. The air in your bathroom may hold moisture, which will help keep the fabrics damp and encourage mildew and mold growth. Airflow in a bathroom is very important!

• Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: Whenever I take my car for service, the key fob that I leave with the tech is the one that doesn’t have my house key attached. Not that I patronize a shady service station, I simply think being extra cautious is best.

Lynn, in Vermont

Lynn, being careful is always a good idea. You don’t know everyone who walks into the business or everyone who works there.

• Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: When one of my sons got married, I secured the services of a babysitter. I provided her with coloring books and crayons, and I positioned her in another room at the facility. Guests signed their children in with her, leaving her their cellphone numbers so that she could text them in case of an emergency. It worked beautifully!

• A Reader, via email

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