Chicago Cleaning & Restoration Blog

Water Damage Cleanup in Chicago, IL: Pro Tips to Prevent Basement Flooding

April 16, 2025

Essential Guide to Preventing Basement Flooding in Chicago, IL As a homeowner in Chicago, IL, protecting your property from basement flooding and water damage should be a top priority. Between heavy spring rains, aging infrastructure, and shifting foundation conditions, many Chicagoans face a high risk of water damage—especially in neighborhoods near the lake or with …

How to Remove Cigarette Smoke Odors Permanently

February 13, 2025

Cleaning the scent of cigarette smoke from your home is no easy task, especially if you don’t know where to start. From what tools to use and which areas of your home need to be cleaned, there are many factors to consider and steps to take before you can even begin. It may even be …

How to Safely Heat Your Home This Winter

December 31, 2024

Chicago, Illinois, is known for its cold and snowy winters. Whether you want to sit by a cozy fireplace or let your heating system take care of things, you should follow a few heating safety tips to stay as safe as possible. The right protocols and precautionary measures can help you lower the potential risk …

How to Put Out a Grease Fire

March 20, 2025December 24, 2024

Dealing with hot appliances and oils can lead to accidents like grease fires. These fires have specific characteristics such as fierce flames, dense smoke, a pungent smell, and popping and sizzling sounds. They happen when cooking oil or fats get too hot and ignite. When oil reaches its flashpoint — typically around 600 degrees Fahrenheit — it can catch fire. Stopping …

Mold vs. Mildew: Differences, Prevention and Removal Options

March 20, 2025November 18, 2024

Are mold and mildew the same? While they are both fungi commonly found in our homes, there are clear distinctions between them. Understanding the differences between mold and mildew will help you know which type of fungus you have in your home and how best to get rid of it. What Is Mold? We use …

Mold Allergies vs. Seasonal Allergies

March 20, 2025September 20, 2024

If you are experiencing symptoms such as sniffling and sneezing, watery eyes, and an itchy throat, seasonal triggers could be the cause. However, other allergens like mold may be the source of your discomfort — in this case, immediate action is necessary to remove the mold from your home. Even though differentiating between mold and …

How to Prevent Refrigerator and Ice Maker Water Damage

September 20, 2024March 1, 2024

Your refrigerator conveniently preserves food — and if you’re fortunate enough to have a built-in ice maker, you can chill a refreshing beverage anytime with the push of a button. However, a broken or malfunctioning ice maker may leak, causing extensive damage to your kitchen. Fixing the issue can be tricky unless you know where …

What Is Black Water Damage?

February 19, 2025February 8, 2024

Black water damage occurs when highly contaminated water enters your home. Groundwater flooding or sewer system backups can cause black water to overflow from your toilet, kitchen sinks, dishwasher or outdoor areas into your home and contaminate surfaces. From harmful pathogens and bacteria to toxic chemicals, black water can present serious health risks, including illness …

Killing Mold With Bleach

July 12, 2024October 24, 2023

Mold is a persistent problem that plagues many homes and businesses. It poses potential health risks and structural damage if untreated. Bleach is often proposed as a do-it-yourself (DIY) solution for mold removal. However, it’s essential to recognize its limitations. Mold issues can be far more complex than they appear, extending beyond what you …

How to Put a Grease Fire Out

October 30, 2023August 28, 2023

Dealing with hot appliances and oils can lead to accidents like grease fires. Stopping a grease fire requires a different approach than other kinds of fires — learning how to put one out will help you stay calm and ensure the safety of you and your home. What Causes …

Read moreHow to Put a Grease Fire Out

ELIZABETH HAYDUK

20:29 21 Jul 21

This ServiceMaster team was very well managed, effective and pleasant in a time that is difficult for a homeowner. In... my case, they went above the call of duty moving a significant amount of contents stored in the water damaged area.read more

Candy Haan

16:52 04 Sep 20

Service Master scheduled an in-home visit within 24 hours, came and did an infrared and moisture meter analysis and... provided me with on the spot results. They were professional and courteous and I highly recommend them.read more

Lori Alexander

15:59 09 Dec 19

ServiceMaster was fantastic to work with. They were prompt, courteous and got the job done efficiently. I would... definitely work with them again!read more

Andrew Pincus

13:49 17 Oct 19

Dan and team responded quickly to our water damage and offered us a more practical approach than another vendor. The... machines arrived next day and the drying worked as expected. Dan was responsive to our questions and walked us through each step in the process.read more

Samspring Spring

03:03 27 Jul 19

I recommend ServiceMaster of lincoln park to everyone. I had a water damage in my basement and Dan responded to my call... quickly. He inspected the damage and provided the estimate the same day. The crews came out to do the work, and they were very professional doing the water mitigation in my basement. Thank you all for the great job.well done!read more

S Valentino

17:21 23 Jul 19

I would not give this company SERVICE MASTER OF LINCOLN PARK even 1 star. Their idea if cleaning a wood floor was to... MOP THE FLOOR. When they came out for an estimate they said they CLEANED FLOORS not ran a mop over the floor. When I said you can’t just mop the man said well they don’t scrub floors!!! That’s so ridiculous! I am so upset at their false promise of cleaning. This same man who came out for the estimate saw paint splatters on the floor and I told him they were new. He didn’t say anything about not being able (or the fact they they don’t WORK at getting them out).But when they came to do the job he said his boss told him not to do anything but mop the floor and that won’t get the paint off. MOPPING ALSO IS NOT CLEANING THE FLOOR ...ITS JUST MOVING DIRTY WATER AROUND. Worst case of misrepresentation of work that I have ever seen. The part of the floor that they ran their dirty mop over isn’t even remotely clean. But they are not bashful about charging an arm and a leg.They advertise that people should have this “cleaning” done every so often to get their floors really clean. THIS IS THEIR IDEA OF REALLY CLEAN! Swishing a dirty mop over the floor!!!! I asked them to leave. Now I am in a terrible situation with one day left before I have someone move in. I hope this review will help someone else not get duped into hiring them!read more

Sharon Lee

18:51 01 Feb 19

I had the most awesome experience with Service Master of Lincoln Park, David and Andrew were wonderful!! They made the... devastating stress of my water damage so much easier to get through. They went above and beyond in their help and kept me sane! I am an Insurance Agent that has recommended Service Masters to my clients for many years and have always had good feedback from clients. The professionalism and kindness by David and Andrew was outstanding. I very much appreciate all that you do!read more