Mamre is an old Moravian mission village north of Atlantis, surrounded by open farmland and West Coast veld. Life here is quieter and more rural than the city, and the pests follow suit: field mice, crickets and grain pests more than city rats.
The local picture in Mamre
Schools, the clinic and community halls benefit from regular disinfection. Chicken runs and animal pens should be cleaned out often to keep flies under control.
Mamre is ringed by wheat fields, grazing land and sandy West Coast scrub. Summers are hot and dry with strong winds, and winters bring most of the year's rain. Harvest time and the first cold fronts push field mice from the farmland into homes.
Mice and rats from the surrounding farmland are the main concern, especially in autumn and winter. Flies are common in summer near livestock. Ants, crickets and scorpions come in from the dry veld.
Signs to look for
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
- Shared equipment such as till points, keyboards, phones and kitchen counters is used by many hands every day.
- 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.
A note from the field
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.
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our COVID-19 disinfection service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
- Put a daily wipe-down of handles, switches and shared phones on someone's task list, not just the cleaner's.
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.
COVID-19 Disinfection questions from Mamre
Why do we get so many mice in Mamre in autumn?
When the surrounding wheat fields are harvested and the weather cools, mice lose their cover and food and move into homes and sheds. Sealing gaps before the season starts makes a real difference.
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.
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.
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 Mamre for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Mamre is part of our regular Blaauwberg & West Coast route, along with Atlantis, Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can you treat borer in a thatched roof?
Yes, we inspect thatch and roof timbers for beetle activity and treat it with methods suited to thatch. Older mission-era roofs especially benefit from a regular check.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254