EXHIBIT 23.1 Consent of Independent Public Accountants To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of The ServiceMaster Company: As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our report dated January 24, 2000, incorporated by reference in The ServiceMaster Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, into The ServiceMaster Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-75069. /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Chicago, Illinois June 9, 2000