
Disaster Restoration 101: Mold Remediation

Nasutsa Mabwa
March 26, 2015Though mold seems like an innocuous organism, when found indoors it can cause quite a bit of trouble. Homeowners should be leery of this fungus if they notice it has crept into their homes. Late July through the beginning of fall is when most notice this pest lurking about.
Mold removal in Chicago
should be handled by a professional, like ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons, to ensure that each aspect of the infestation is fully remediated.
Where will I find mold?
Typically, mold and water damage go hand in hand. If you recently had a flooded basement or burst pipe, remaining moisture may still be present in hard to see places or behind walls. Mold thrives in damp, dark places, which makes basement corners and underneath sinks ideal locations for colonies to form. If you see a mold colony form on a wall in your home, chances are part of that colony also exists behind that wall.
Why can't I remove mold myself?
There are many store brands that claim you can remove mold from your home by yourself. Though these products may be effective for small areas, they won't stand a chance against larger colonies.
One common method that people try is to clean up mold with bleach and water. This removes the surface colony, but doesn't fully solve the problem. Hidden mold may still exist, and now the mold spores of the colony have been disturbed and may relocate to a different damp, dark space.
Finally, mold can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Most homeowners just don't have the proper protective equipment and respirators to safely and effectively perform mold removal.
What does mold remediation mean?
Though mold removal is a part of mold remediation, the terms are not totally interchangeable. Mold remediation includes removing colonies, restoring the indoor air quality by removing spores, repairing any damaged structures or walls, and fixing potential causes of the mold, such as continued water damage. Mold removal is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to restoring your home and reclaiming it from the fungus.
ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons provides complete mold remediation for Chicago homeowners and business owners.
Contact us today
for more information about our restoration services, or to schedule mold remediation for your building.
Nasutsa Mabwa is the CEO of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a nationally recognized, award-winning disaster restoration firm serving Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties. Under her leadership, the company has become one of Chicagoland’s most trusted providers of water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke damage cleanup, mold remediation, and specialty cleaning services for both residential and commercial clients.
A respected business and civic leader, Nasutsa has received numerous honors for her contributions to the industry and her community. Her accolades include:
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies - 2025 recipient
- Top 100 Women to KNOW in America (2024) by KNOW Women & JPMorgan Chase
- Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40
- SB100 Best of Small Business Award
- 2020 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
- Stevie® Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year
- 2020 Daily Herald Business Ledger C-Suite Award
- 2018 ServiceMaster® Achiever Award
She is IICRC-certified in both Water Damage Restoration (WRT) and Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT), combining technical expertise with visionary leadership. Nasutsa holds a Master’s in Urban Planning & Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA in Real Estate Development from Roosevelt University.
Beyond her business achievements, Nasutsa is an active community advocate. She is a Board Member of the Civic Federation, an Advisory Board Member, and Past President of the Executive Committee for the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. She is also a long-standing member of the Women Presidents Organization (WPO).
She is the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset, an essential guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water and fire disasters.
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