Retreat is a busy, close-knit area where homes sit tight together and the main roads are lined with shops and taxis. Because people live close to each other, a pest problem in one yard usually becomes everybody's problem within a few weeks.
Hygiene & disinfection in Retreat: what we see
Crèches, schools, clinics and churches in Retreat often need disinfection, and we fog shared spaces after illness or a cockroach clean-out.
Retreat lies on the edge of the Cape Flats sand, near Princess Vlei and the wetland areas toward Zeekoevlei. The water table is fairly high and some streets hold water after heavy winter rain. Standing water and vlei edges mean mosquitoes, and the sandy soil is easy for rats to burrow into.
Rats are the number one issue, followed by German cockroaches in kitchens and flats. Fleas and bed bugs come up regularly in dense housing. Mosquitoes are a seasonal complaint near the vleis.
What gives them away
- 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.
- 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.
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
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.
How we handle COVID-19 disinfection in Retreat
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
- 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.
- Keep people at home when they are sick. It does more than any amount of spraying.
- 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.
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 Retreat
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.
My neighbour has rats. Will treating only my house help?
It helps your house, but rats move between homes in Retreat easily. If neighbours treat at the same time, the result lasts much longer.
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 Retreat for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Retreat is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Steenberg, Lavender Hill, Heathfield, Tokai. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do the mosquitoes in Retreat come from Princess Vlei?
Partly, but most mosquitoes breed in small pockets of water much closer to home, like blocked gutters, buckets and pot plant saucers. Clearing those cuts numbers quickly.
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.
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