Fish Hoek is a beach town with a strong community, plenty of retirees and a flat valley that cuts right across the peninsula toward Noordhoek. A lot of our work here is helping people in older homes keep mice, fishmoths and ants under control without any fuss.
Fish Hoek: what drives hygiene & disinfection here
Retirement complexes, frail care facilities, medical practices and schools book disinfection, and holiday rentals are sanitised between guests.
The town sits on sandy ground on the valley floor that links False Bay to Noordhoek, with mountains on both sides. Winter brings rain and cold north-westers, while summer belongs to the South-Easter. The slopes and the Silvermine side give scorpions, spiders and rodents plenty of natural habitat right next to the houses.
Mice and rats in roofs and garages are the steadiest call. Argentine ants and fishmoths are next, and gulls and pigeons cause trouble near the beach and on Main Road.
A note from the field
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.
How to tell you have a problem
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
- 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.
- You are about to reopen a space that was closed because of illness.
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
- Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
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 Fish Hoek
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- 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.
Questions we get asked in Fish Hoek
Do you come out to Fish Hoek for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Fish Hoek is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Clovelly, Sun Valley, Noordhoek, Kalk Bay. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Why do I find scorpions in my Fish Hoek garden?
Homes close to the mountain slopes are right on the edge of their natural habitat. Clearing rock piles and debris near the house and keeping doors sealed at the bottom helps a lot.
Is it safe for children and pets afterwards?
Yes, once the re-entry time has passed and the room has been ventilated. Keep pets and kids out while we are working.
Do you treat retirement complexes in Fish Hoek?
Yes. We work with complexes on cockroach, rodent and ant control and can do disinfection of shared areas, choosing the least-toxic effective option first.
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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254