Parklands COVID-19 Disinfection

Parklands grew fast from bare dune land into rows of townhouse complexes and family homes, so many pest issues here come from the sand and open veld that still surround parts of it. Ants, mice and windblown flies are typical.

The local picture in Parklands

Gyms, crèches and short-term rental units book most of the sanitising here. Some complexes have the clubhouse and refuse room done on a schedule.

Parklands is built on sandy, windy coastal ground near Big Bay and Table View, with open dune and veld land still at the edges. The South-Easter blows hard in summer, and winter brings cold fronts and rain. Ponds and wetlands in estates and parks hold water year-round.

Most homes are newer brick houses and townhouses in complexes with shared walls and gardens. Light roofs and modern building methods keep things tidy, but gaps around pipes, vents and garage doors let mice and insects in. Complexes share refuse areas, which can attract rodents. Some estates have ponds and open spaces with water features.

How to tell you have a problem

1. A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
2. Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
3. Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
4. Shared equipment such as till points, keyboards, phones and kitchen counters is used by many hands every day.
5. Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.

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.

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

• 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.
• Know who to phone before you need it, so a positive case does not turn into a day of scrambling.
• Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
• Place hand sanitiser at entrances, the kitchen and the till, and keep it topped up.

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

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