Upper Woodstock is the old residential heart of Woodstock, climbing from Victoria Road towards Devil's Peak. Rows of Victorian cottages, many lovingly restored, sit shoulder to shoulder, and their age and closeness explain most of what we find here.
Upper Woodstock: what drives hygiene & disinfection here
Shared houses and rentals ask for disinfection between tenants. Small creative studios and cafés use sanitising services too.
The Devil's Peak slopes are close, and the South-Easter funnels down the streets with surprising force in summer. Winter rain soaks old brickwork, and many cottages have damp walls and floors. Historic stormwater drains under the streets are home to rats and cockroaches.
Rats and mice are top of the list because of the old drains and shared roofs. Cockroaches and fishmoths enjoy the damp, and wood borer in floorboards and roof timbers is a common find. Pigeons roost on the older rooflines.
What gives them away
- You are about to reopen a space that was closed because of illness.
- Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
- A client, landlord or head office has asked for proof that the premises were disinfected.
- 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.
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.
Something most people miss
Fogging is not magic smoke. The real work is the manual wipe-down of the things hands touch all day, and the fog then reaches the places a cloth misses.
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 we handle COVID-19 disinfection in Upper Woodstock
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
- Place hand sanitiser at entrances, the kitchen and the till, and keep it topped up.
- 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.
- Keep people at home when they are sick. It does more than any amount of spraying.
What affects the price
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 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.
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.
Why do rats keep returning to my Upper Woodstock cottage?
In terraced rows, rats move through shared roof spaces and old drains. A joint treatment with neighbours, plus sealing the gaps in your roof and floor, gives lasting results.
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.
Do you come out to Upper Woodstock for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Upper Woodstock is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Woodstock, Walmer Estate, University Estate, Salt River. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do restored Victorian floors in Upper Woodstock need borer treatment?
Not always, but older pine is prone to common furniture beetle. If you see small round holes or fine powder, it is worth having it inspected.
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