For many people in law enforcement and restoration, “Aftermath” was the name that came to mind when a scene needed cleaning. The company began in the Chicago suburbs in 1996 and grew into one of the best-known national providers in a trade that, at the time, barely had a name.
That name has now been retired. ServiceMaster Brands acquired Aftermath in 2022, and the company has since transitioned to the name ServiceMaster BioClean, according to the company’s own announcement.
- 1996Aftermath is founded in suburban Chicago. Its co-founder Tim Reifsteck and Chris Wilson were childhood friends from Illinois, according to a 2007 CSI Files report.
- 2007Crime writer Gil Reavill publishes Aftermath, Inc.: Cleaning Up After CSI Goes Home, a book about the company’s work.
- 2008The audio documentary Aftermath, produced for Love + Radio, profiles Reifsteck and is featured by the Third Coast International Audio Festival.
- 2022ServiceMaster Brands acquires Aftermath.
- 2025Aftermath operates under the new name ServiceMaster BioClean.
What it means for the industry
The sale reflects a broader pattern: restoration and cleaning franchisors adding biohazard work to their portfolios. For police departments and funeral homes that keep referral lists, it is a reminder to check that the names on those lists are current and that the company answering the phone is the one you expect.
The people who built the early industry have not all left it. Members of the Reifsteck family now operate Huuso Bio, a cleanup company based in Plainfield, Illinois.
