The Northern Suburbs are home turf for us, since our base is in Brackenfell. From Goodwood and Parow out to Durbanville and Kraaifontein, we see the full range of pests, from ceiling rats to summer ant invasions.
COVID-19 Disinfection by suburb
We cover all 16 suburbs on our Northern Suburbs route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
- BellvilleCOVID-19 Disinfection
- BrackenfellCOVID-19 Disinfection
- BrooklynCOVID-19 Disinfection
- DurbanvilleCOVID-19 Disinfection
- EppingCOVID-19 Disinfection
- GoodwoodCOVID-19 Disinfection
- KensingtonCOVID-19 Disinfection
- KraaifonteinCOVID-19 Disinfection
- Kuils RiverCOVID-19 Disinfection
- LoevensteinCOVID-19 Disinfection
- MaitlandCOVID-19 Disinfection
- Monte VistaCOVID-19 Disinfection
- PanoramaCOVID-19 Disinfection
- ParowCOVID-19 Disinfection
- PlattekloofCOVID-19 Disinfection
- ThorntonCOVID-19 Disinfection
Northern Suburbs: what drives hygiene & disinfection here
Schools, crèches, clinics and offices across Bellville and Durbanville are regular disinfection clients. For landlords, sanitising between tenants is the most common request.
Inland from the coast, the Northern Suburbs get hotter, drier summers and cold, wet winters. The Tygerberg hills, the Durbanville wine farms and stretches of open veld edge many suburbs. Rivers like the Kuils River and various stormwater canals run through the area.
Rats and mice in ceilings top the list in winter, while ants, fleas and flies dominate summer. Cockroaches in flats and townhouses are a year-round issue. Wasps, scorpions and fishmoths round out the regular calls.
Worth knowing
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.
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.
Signs to look for
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
- 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.
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.
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our COVID-19 disinfection service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
- 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.
- Keep people at home when they are sick. It does more than any amount of spraying.
- 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.
Questions we get asked in Northern Suburbs
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.
Why do ants get worse in the Northern Suburbs in summer?
The inland heat dries out gardens, so ant colonies come indoors looking for water and food. Gel baits on their trails and sealing entry points sort it out.
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.
Are you close enough to respond quickly in the Northern Suburbs?
Yes, we are based in Brackenfell, and our average turnaround is about 48 hours depending on the season. For urgent advice there is a 24-hour emergency line.
Do you come out to Northern Suburbs for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Northern Suburbs is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Bellville, Durbanville, Parow, Goodwood. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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