Clifton is a narrow strip of houses and bungalows clinging to the granite between Victoria Road and its four famous beaches. Access is mostly by long flights of stairs and pathways, which shapes how we work and how pests spread between properties packed onto the slope.
Clifton: what drives hygiene & disinfection here
Rental agents and owners often book disinfection of homes between guests, especially in the busy summer months.
Clifton is sheltered from the worst of the South-Easter by Lion's Head, which keeps it warmer and calmer than its neighbours. Salt spray, granite boulders and fynbos on the slopes above set the scene. Winter rain runs down the steep pathways and stairs, and still, hot summer days suit flies and ants.
Homes range from small wooden and stone bungalows near the sand to large multi-level houses and apartment blocks higher up. Many are built right into the rock with storerooms and voids underneath that stay damp and dark. Timber cladding, decks and old bungalows make borer a real concern, and holiday lets bring a steady flow of luggage and groceries.
A note from the field
For homes with small children or pets, the main rule is simple: everybody out during the treatment, windows open afterwards, and wait out the re-entry time we give you.
When we walk into an office after a positive case, the first thing we look at is the shared kitchen. Kettle, fridge handle, microwave buttons and the tea-towel nobody washes.
Tell-tale signs
- Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
- Shared equipment such as till points, keyboards, phones and kitchen counters is used by many hands every day.
- You are about to reopen a space that was closed because of illness.
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
Respiratory viruses spread mainly through the air between people, but contaminated surfaces play a part, particularly in busy shared spaces. For a business the bigger cost is often staff absence: one case that turns into five can empty a small office for a week. There is also a trust issue, because staff and customers want to know something was actually done. Surface disinfection lowers the load on surfaces, but it does not replace ventilation, staying home when sick or medical advice.
How we handle COVID-19 disinfection in Clifton
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our COVID-19 disinfection service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Put a daily wipe-down of handles, switches and shared phones on someone's task list, not just the cleaner's.
- Open windows where you can. Cape Town's south-easter is good for something, and moving air dilutes airborne virus.
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
- Keep people at home when they are sick. It does more than any amount of spraying.
- Place hand sanitiser at entrances, the kitchen and the till, and keep it topped up.
How much will it cost?
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.
COVID-19 Disinfection questions from Clifton
Will it damage computers or documents?
No, a ULV fog is very fine and settles lightly. We still cover or wipe sensitive electronics instead of fogging straight at them.
How do you get equipment down to Clifton homes with only stair access?
We carry what we need by hand and plan the visit around the stairs and pathways. Let us know the access route when you book so we can bring the right kit.
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.
Do you come out to Clifton for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Clifton is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Camps Bay, Bantry Bay, Atlantic Seaboard, Sea Point. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Is wood borer a big issue for Clifton bungalows?
It can be, because many bungalows are built from timber that stays damp from sea air. A yearly inspection catches beetle activity early and keeps the structure sound.
Does fogging kill the COVID-19 virus?
The disinfectants we use are effective against enveloped viruses on surfaces when they are given the right contact time. Fogging treats surfaces in the room; it does not make the air or the people in it immune.
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