Q: A couple of days ago, the city flushed out the water mains. For several hours after they finished, I got a lot of dark sludge in the water. Now my washing machine takes a long time to fill. Is ...

Dr. Elizabeth Yuko is a bioethicist and adjunct professor of ethics at Fordham University. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, CNN & Playboy.

Neglected washing machines can harbor bacteria and mold, leading to odors and reduced performance. Regular cleaning of the ...