Claremont is the Southern Suburbs' shopping and office hub, built around Cavendish Square, Main Road and the station, with leafy residential streets running up towards the mountain. Our work here swings between commercial kitchens and retail on one side and older family homes with big trees on the other.
Hygiene & disinfection in Claremont: what we see
Offices, gyms, medical rooms and schools in the area often ask for disinfection, especially in the winter flu months.
Being close to Newlands and the mountain, Claremont is one of the wetter parts of Cape Town in winter, so damp walls and soggy gardens are normal. Large oaks and plane trees line the streets, and Arderne Gardens holds an old collection of big trees. That green canopy feeds roof rats and grey squirrels and gives wasps sheltered nesting spots.
Rats in the commercial area and roof rats in homes are the leading issues. German cockroaches cause trouble in restaurants and flats, while ants and fishmoths do well in damp older houses. Squirrels in roofs and pigeons around the shops are steady complaints.
From the technician
Landlords sometimes ask us to treat a flat between tenants after illness. It is a reasonable step, and the written report is useful if anyone asks questions later.
A common mistake is to fog first and wipe later. Dirt and grease shield viruses from disinfectant, so we clean the high-touch points before the fogger goes on.
Signs to look for
- Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
- A client, landlord or head office has asked for proof that the premises were disinfected.
- Shared equipment such as till points, keyboards, phones and kitchen counters is used by many hands every day.
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
How the treatment works
We start with the boring part that matters most: wiping down high-touch surfaces by hand with a suitable disinfectant, because fogging alone does not scrub a greasy door handle. Then we fog the rooms with a ULV fogger, which puts out a fine mist that settles on surfaces, including the ones nobody thinks to wipe. We choose products that are suitable for the surfaces and the people who will use the space, and we tell you how long to keep the area closed before re-entry. Electronics are covered or wiped rather than soaked. Afterwards you get a short report listing the areas treated and the product used.
- Quick call or WhatsApp
Tell us what happened, the size of the space and when you need it back. We plan around your hours, including after-hours and weekends on request.
- Walk-through
We check the layout, the high-touch points and anything sensitive like server rooms, food areas or medical equipment.
- Manual wipe-down
Handles, switches, desks, counters, taps and shared equipment are wiped with disinfectant first.
- ULV fogging
Each room is fogged with the doors closed, then left for the recommended contact time.
- Ventilate and hand back
We open up, confirm the re-entry time and leave a written report for your records.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Know who to phone before you need it, so a positive case does not turn into a day of scrambling.
- Place hand sanitiser at entrances, the kitchen and the till, and keep it topped up.
- Open windows where you can. Cape Town's south-easter is good for something, and moving air dilutes airborne virus.
- Put a daily wipe-down of handles, switches and shared phones on someone's task list, not just the cleaner's.
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
What affects the price
The cost depends mostly on floor area and how many separate rooms need fogging. Heavy furniture, lots of electronics or food preparation areas take more time because they need careful wiping and covering. After-hours or weekend work and repeat treatments during an ongoing outbreak also affect the quote, which is free.
A household with one sick person can do a decent job with gloves, a disinfectant and some discipline about door handles and the bathroom. For an office, a shop or a care facility, I would get it done professionally, partly for the thoroughness and partly because you get a written record that it was done properly.
Frequently asked questions
Do Main Road restaurants bring rats into nearby Claremont homes?
Rats do move from busy food areas into nearby properties, especially along lanes and stormwater lines. Good waste control on the commercial side and sealing gaps at home cuts the problem down.
Do you give a certificate or report?
You get a post-treatment report listing the areas treated and the product used, which most landlords and head offices accept as proof.
Are the squirrels in Claremont roofs a pest problem?
They can be, because grey squirrels chew through roof boards and wiring once they get into a ceiling. We help by sealing entry points and trimming branches, so they stay in the trees instead of your roof.
How long before staff can go back in?
Usually a couple of hours after fogging, once the room has been aired. We confirm the exact time on the day based on the product used.
Do we have to close the whole building?
Not always. We can treat the affected section first and work around the rest, or come in after hours.
Do you come out to Claremont for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Claremont is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Newlands, Kenilworth, Harfield Village, Rondebosch. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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