Do You Have a Mold or Mould Problem? (Either Way, You’ll Want It Gone)

Spoiler alert: Whether you spell it mold or mould, it’s not something you want lurking in your home or business.

Here in Chicagoland—where historic homes meet humid summers and unpredictable basement leaks—mold is more than just a spelling debate. It’s a health hazard, a property damage threat, and a major insurance headache if left untreated.

But let’s have a little fun first.

Mould vs. 🇺🇸 Mold: Same Problem, Same Fungus

Did you grow up watching Doctor Who, sipping tea, and spelling “colour” with a u? Then you probably write mould.
If you’re all about football Sundays, power tools, and Home Depot, it’s mold.

Same fungus. Different spelling.

A Few Classic British vs. American Spelling Differences:

• Flavour → Flavor
• Neighbour → Neighbor
• Labour → Labor
• Mould → Mold

In the U.K., mould means:

• A fuzzy or slimy growth caused by moisture
• A form used to shape something (like cake pans or crown molding)

In the U.S., mold means… exactly the same thing.

Pro Tip: If you're in the U.S., you’ll likely want to stick to mold for consistency with Google searches and professional documentation.

Mold in Your Home: More Than Just a Language Lesson

Mold is more than an aesthetic problem. In the Chicago area—especially in moisture-prone neighborhoods like Skokie, Rogers Park, Wilmette, and Albany Park—it's a serious indoor air quality issue.

The Most Common Places Mold Hides:

• Basements with past or current water damage
• Attics with poor ventilation or leaky roofs (note: we do not provide attic remediation)
• Bathrooms without proper exhaust fans
• Kitchens near dishwashers or under leaky sinks
• Crawlspaces with high humidity
• HVAC systems (where it can spread throughout the home)

Signs You Might Have a Mold Problem:

• Musty or earthy odors
• Black, green, or gray patches on walls or ceilings
• Allergy symptoms that worsen indoors (sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes)
• Recent flooding or pipe leaks
• Warped walls or peeling paint

Why Mold (or Mould) Can’t Be Ignored

Mold spreads through airborne spores and can begin growing on surfaces in as little as 24–48 hours after water intrusion. Left untreated, it can:

• Trigger asthma, allergies, or respiratory problems
• Cause structural damage to drywall, wood, and insulation
• Lead to costly demolition and reconstruction
• Complicated home sales or insurance claims

Why DIY Mold Cleanup Is a Bad Idea

You might be tempted to spray bleach or vinegar and call it a day. Don’t.

Household cleaners only treat surface mold, not what’s growing inside your walls, floors, or HVAC system. Worse, scrubbing mold can release even more spores into the air.

What Professionals Do Differently:

• Use HEPA air scrubbers and negative air machines
• Contain affected areas with professional-grade barriers
• Safely remove and dispose of contaminated materials
• Perform post-remediation verification testing to ensure the mold is gone

Bonus: At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we follow IICRC S520 mold remediation standards to ensure full compliance and peace of mind.

Serving Chicago and the North Shore with Trusted Mold Remediation

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is not your average mold cleanup crew. We’ve been helping homeowners and businesses in Lake County, North Shore, and Chicago for over 40 years.

Led by IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer Sam Simon, our team has tackled mold outbreaks in everything from North Side greystones to Glencoe estates. We're trusted by homeowners, realtors, and property managers across:

• Evanston (Ridge Historic District, Dempster Corridor)
• Skokie (Downtown Skokie, Skokie Highlands)
• Wilmette (Kenilworth Gardens, The CAGE)
• Lincoln Park, West Loop, and more

We’ve even helped remediate mold after Hurricane Katrina and Midwest floods—so there’s no situation too complex for our team.

Whether It’s Mold or Mould — Let’s Get Rid of It

If you smell something musty or see mold patches in your home or commercial property, don’t wait.

Call ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons at (773) 376-1110 in Chicago and

(847) 316-9145 for the North Shore.
Or learn more about our Chicago mold remediation services

We’ll identify the source, contain the damage, and remove the mold safely and professionally.

Related Reading

• Do I Really Need Mold Remediation? The Ultimate Guide for Chicago Homeowners
• 5 Hidden Signs of Water Damage Most Homeowners Miss
• Why Ants Love Your House — And What That Might Say About Hidden Water Damage

About ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

Founded in Chicago in 1929, ServiceMaster is the nation’s oldest restoration company. Our franchise, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, has served Chicagoland for over 40 years. We’re a multi-award-winning, MBE/WBE-certified, and IICRC Certified Firm delivering disaster restoration and specialty cleaning to homes and businesses throughout:

Chicago, North Shore, Lake County, and DuPage County.

From water damage to mold, fire, or trauma cleanup—we bring fast, expert help when you need it most.

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📖 Learn more in our book:
RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset

Internal Service Links

• Mold Remediation
• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Specialty Cleaning