Woodstock runs from the railway line and the old industrial blocks along Albert Road up to the cottages above Victoria Road. It is part creative hub, part working neighbourhood, and its mix of old buildings, food businesses and busy streets keeps rodents and cockroaches well fed.
The local picture in Woodstock
Restaurants, studios, offices and shared workspaces ask for sanitising and fogging. Rentals and shared houses also need regular disinfection.
The suburb sits between the mountain slopes and the harbour, with the railway corridor running along the lower edge. Old stormwater systems and drains carry water down towards the sea, and they also carry rats and American cockroaches. The South-Easter blows rubbish around and through open doors in summer.
Rats are the number one issue, especially near the railway, food businesses and old drains. German and American cockroaches are close behind. Pigeons roost on old warehouse roofs, and flies build up near restaurants and bins.
Worth knowing
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.
What gives them away
- Shared equipment such as till points, keyboards, phones and kitchen counters is used by many hands every day.
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
- 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.
How we handle COVID-19 disinfection in 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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our COVID-19 disinfection service works.
Prevention that actually works
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
COVID-19 Disinfection questions from Woodstock
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 the rats in Woodstock come from the railway line?
The railway reserve and the old drains are major sources, along with food businesses and bins. A bait station programme around your building's perimeter keeps them in check.
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.
Do you come out to Woodstock for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Woodstock is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Upper Woodstock, Salt River, Observatory, Zonnebloem. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Can you service a Woodstock restaurant after hours?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits are available on request, so treatments do not disrupt service. You also get a post-treatment report for your records.
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