On clothes
Step 1: Take your dank clothes outside and brush off any black fuzz you might see.
Step 2: Make a paste of lemon juice and salt and spread on the spotted area.
Step 3: Leave your clothes in the sun for several hours. If you have a clothesline, hang them up. Otherwise, lay them flat on a clean, dry surface.
Step 4: Rinse thoroughly with water, and then launder as usual.
On books
Step 1: It’s perfectly acceptable to cry over your mildewed books. Just don’t let your tears fall on the pages. Moisture and warmth promote mold.
Step 2: After you regain your composure, take your books outside on a sunny day. With a dry towel, gently brush the damaged pages.
Step 3: Very lightly dust the pages with cornstarch, set the books on end, and leave in the fresh air for several hours.
Step 4: Brush your pages once more, and start reading.
On furniture
Step 1: Check for change between the cushions, and do with it what you will.
Step 2: Give your couch or chair a good once-over with your vacuum.
Step 3: Carry the item outside on a sunny, not-too-humid day and let the sun do its work. A few black spores are no match for powerful UV rays. Sha-zam!
On painted walls
Step 1: Put on some rubber gloves. (Do it with a dramatic snapping motion to increase your pleasure.)
Step 2: Pour 3/4 cup bleach into a gallon of water, and with a clean sponge, wipe down your walls.
Step 3: Rinse out your sponge with fresh water, and wipe the walls once more.
On bathroom tiles
Step 1: Spray or wipe your tiles with a solution of four parts water to one part vinegar, and go do something else, preferably something much more fun, for an hour or so. (You can also use straight vinegar, but do it too frequently and it may break down your grout.)
Step 2: Sprinkle baking soda on a stiff brush (or a toothbrush) and go nuts on your walls, scrubbing all the grout lines vigorously.
Step 3: Rinse and, if necessary, repeat.
After all
Keep your home clean and well ventilated. Mildew thrives in dirty, dark, and moist places. Open your windows on breezy days. Don’t put dirty or wet clothes in your closet. Turn on your bathroom fan. And think about new ways to let the sun shine in!