Meadowridge is a settled pocket of family homes between Bergvliet and Constantia, with tree-lined streets, parks and a short drive to the Constantia greenbelts. Most of the call-outs here are for squirrels in the roof, ants in summer and mice once the rain sets in.
Hygiene & disinfection in Meadowridge: what we see
Once squirrels or rats have been removed from a ceiling, the insulation and boards they soiled should be sanitised, and we can fog the roof space for you. Nursery schools in the area also book routine disinfection, especially over winter.
The suburb benefits from the cooler, wetter climate of the southern suburbs, with heavy winter rain off the mountain. Greenbelts and streams in the Constantia valley run close by, providing cover for rodents and mosquitoes. Big trees and lawns keep the ground damp, which ants and fishmoths enjoy.
Squirrels and rats in roofs, Argentine ants in kitchens and fishmoths in cupboards are the usual list. Wasps nest under eaves in summer. Mosquitoes breed in pool covers and garden water features.
Worth knowing
Disinfection is not a substitute for ventilation. In a Cape Town winter it is tempting to keep everything closed, but fresh air does a lot of the work for you.
How to tell you have a problem
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
- 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.
- 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.
Our process, step by step
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- 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.
- Know who to phone before you need it, so a positive case does not turn into a day of scrambling.
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.
Our busiest disinfection months are the wet Cape winters, from about May to August, when people are packed indoors with the windows shut and flu and colds spread fast. We still see call-outs in summer, usually after a single case in an office or a care home.
COVID-19 Disinfection questions from Meadowridge
Do you come out to Meadowridge for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Meadowridge is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Bergvliet, Constantia, Diep River, Plumstead. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do the Constantia greenbelts bring more rats to Meadowridge?
They can, as greenbelts give rats cover and water. Keeping compost covered and woodpiles off the ground makes your garden less attractive to 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.
How do I know if it's squirrels in my Meadowridge roof?
Squirrels are active during the day, so daytime scampering and chewed fascias near big trees point to them. Rats tend to be noisier at night.
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.
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