Sunnydale shares the valley floor with Sun Valley but feels a bit more open, with the Noordhoek wetlands and Kommetjie Road close by. Pest work here tends to be about keeping the outdoors outdoors: the bush, the vlei and the wildlife all press right up against people's homes.
The local picture in Sunnydale
Body corporates ask for clubhouse and refuse area disinfection, and rentals between tenants are a regular job. Small local businesses along Kommetjie Road use sanitising services too.
The valley holds water in winter, with wetland and vlei areas towards Noordhoek and Lake Michelle. The Silvermine and Chapman's Peak mountains rise on either side, so cool damp air settles here at night. Strong summer winds funnel through the valley and drive insects towards sheltered walls and stoeps.
Mosquitoes and midges near the wetlands are a big summer complaint. Rodents and Argentine ants are year-round regulars, while fleas, spiders and fishmoths show up in the damp months. Pigeons and Egyptian geese bother complexes with open lawns and water features.
A note from the field
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 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.
- 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.
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
- A client, landlord or head office has asked for proof that the premises were disinfected.
How we handle COVID-19 disinfection in Sunnydale
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
- Put a daily wipe-down of handles, switches and shared phones on someone's task list, not just the cleaner's.
- Stop sharing headsets, pens and keyboards between shifts where you can avoid it.
- 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.
- Open windows where you can. Cape Town's south-easter is good for something, and moving air dilutes airborne virus.
How much will it cost?
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come out to Sunnydale for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Sunnydale is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Sun Valley, Noordhoek, Masiphumelele, Fish Hoek. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
How do I stop Egyptian geese messing around our pool in Sunnydale?
Pool covers, reflective deterrents and making lawns less inviting are the practical options. We can advise on bird deterrent options that suit your property without harming the birds.
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.
Why is my Sunnydale complex overrun with ants every summer?
Argentine ants form supercolonies that stretch across several gardens, so treating one unit only moves them next door. A complex-wide baiting programme works far better.
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.
Is it safe for children and pets afterwards?
Yes, once the re-entry time has passed and the room has been ventilated. Keep pets and kids out while we are working.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
