Steenberg covers two quite different places: the busy residential area near Retreat and Lavender Hill, and the wine estate and golf course on the mountain side. We work across both, and the pest problems differ a lot between them.
The local picture in Steenberg
Schools, crèches, clinics and churches in Steenberg often book disinfection, as do estate clubhouses and gyms.
The Steenberg mountain rises behind the area as part of Table Mountain National Park, with vineyards on its lower slopes. Lower down, the sandy Cape Flats ground and wetlands toward Zeekoevlei and Princess Vlei bring a high water table. Winters are wet, summers hot and windy.
Near the railway and Steenberg station, homes are mainly older council houses, semis and flats, often with backyard rooms. Closer to the mountain, the estate side has newer, larger homes in security developments. Dense housing makes it easy for rodents and cockroaches to spread, while large estate homes deal more with mountain-edge pests. Shops and taxi ranks along the main roads add food sources.
How to tell you have a problem
- A client, landlord or head office has asked for proof that the premises were disinfected.
- You are about to reopen a space that was closed because of illness.
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
- Shared equipment such as till points, keyboards, phones and kitchen counters is used by many hands every day.
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
Worth knowing
For homes with small children or pets, the main rule is simple: everybody out during the treatment, windows open afterwards, and wait out the re-entry time we give you.
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.
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
- 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.
- 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.
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 Steenberg
Why do I find scorpions in my Steenberg estate home?
Homes near the mountain border fynbos and rocky ground where scorpions live. Sealing gaps under doors and clearing rock piles near the house helps.
Do you service both sides of Steenberg?
Yes, we cover the residential area near Retreat and the estates on the mountain side. Treatments are tailored to each type of home.
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.
Do you come out to Steenberg for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Steenberg is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Retreat, Lavender Hill, Tokai, Kirstenhof. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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.
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