Epping is where a lot of Cape Town's food passes through on its way to the shelves, from the fresh produce market to cold stores and distribution warehouses. Our work here is almost all commercial, and it is shaped by audit schedules, delivery bays and the sheer volume of product coming and going.
Hygiene & disinfection in Epping: what we see
Food factories, staff canteens and cold rooms ask for routine disinfection and fogging. Hygiene and pest records go hand in hand when preparing for audits.
The area is flat, with rail sidings and wide verges running between the industrial stands, and the residential suburbs of Goodwood, Thornton and Elsies River close by. Spoiled produce, pallets and skip bins around the market draw rodents and flies all year. Winter rain pools on large concrete yards and in blocked gutters on long warehouse roofs.
Industria 1 and 2 are a mix of large steel-framed warehouses, older brick factories, cold storage and smaller workshop units. Roller doors stay open for long stretches while trucks load, which is the main entry point for rats, birds and flies. High roof trusses and racking give pigeons and roof rats plenty of hidden space. Older factory buildings often have floor drains and cable trenches that cockroaches use as highways.
From the technician
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.
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.
How to tell you have a problem
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
- Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
- You are about to reopen a space that was closed because of illness.
- A client, landlord or head office has asked for proof that the premises were disinfected.
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
What happens when we come out
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
- Place hand sanitiser at entrances, the kitchen and the till, and keep it topped up.
- Know who to phone before you need it, so a positive case does not turn into a day of scrambling.
- Open windows where you can. Cape Town's south-easter is good for something, and moving air dilutes airborne virus.
- Keep people at home when they are sick. It does more than any amount of spraying.
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
Pricing, honestly
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
How do we stop pigeons nesting inside our Epping warehouse?
Netting under the roof trusses and closing gaps at the eaves stops them settling. Strip curtains or fast-closing doors at loading bays help keep them out during the day.
Can you set up an audit-ready pest programme for an Epping warehouse?
Yes. We map bait stations and traps, service them on a regular schedule and keep reports so you have a clear paper trail for food safety audits.
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.
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.
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.
Do you come out to Epping for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Epping is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Goodwood, Pinelands, Ndabeni, Elsies River. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254