Higgovale sits high on the slopes below Table Mountain and Lion's Head, with Kloof Nek just above. The houses are big and often right up against the mountain, so we deal with as many visitors from the slopes as we do from the street.
The local picture in Higgovale
Guest houses and holiday rentals on the slopes book sanitising between guests. Home offices and studios sometimes ask for disinfection too.
Higgovale backs onto Table Mountain National Park, with fynbos, pine and gum trees above and the Kloof Nek area close by. Winter rain runs down the slopes, and the mountain stays damp and cool for longer than the City Bowl below. The mountain edge brings scorpions, spiders, field mice and the occasional dassie or snake into gardens.
Rats and mice from the mountain slopes, especially in winter, are the main complaint. Scorpions, rain spiders and crickets are common in garden-level rooms. Wasps nest under decks and eaves in summer.
What gives them away
- You have had a pest or contamination issue and want the area disinfected after cleaning.
- You have a large open area with lots of surfaces that are slow to wipe down by hand.
- Vehicles carry different passengers and drivers through the day.
- Spaces like gyms, classrooms or offices are shared by many people every day.
- Your business wants a documented periodic hygiene treatment.
Shared surfaces like door handles, desks, gym equipment and vehicle controls pick up germs from every hand that touches them. In busy workplaces and schools, that is how illness moves from person to person. Fogging without cleaning first is a common mistake, because disinfectant does not work well on surfaces covered in grime. Poorly done fogging with the wrong product or no re-entry time can also leave residues or irritate people who come back in too soon.
A note from the field
Pets, birds and fish tanks need to be out of the room or properly protected during fogging. We plan for that, but it helps if you tell us when you book.
Regular fogging is most useful where many people share the same space. In a home with two people, a good clean usually achieves just as much.
What happens when we come out
We use ULV foggers that produce a fine, controlled mist rather than drenching the room, so the disinfectant settles on surfaces without soaking them. Visible dirt should be cleaned off first, as fogging is meant to work alongside cleaning, not replace it. We choose a disinfectant suited to the space, with food-area products for kitchens and storerooms. Electronics are covered or switched off as needed, smoke detectors are taken into account, and the area is closed off during treatment. We then advise on the re-entry time and ventilation before people return.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our disinfectant fogging service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Tell us about fish tanks, birds or sensitive equipment in advance so we can plan around them.
- Keep up regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces between fogging treatments, as fogging does not replace day-to-day hygiene.
- Ventilate well after the re-entry time has passed.
- Clear desks and counters before treatment so the mist can reach the surfaces.
- Schedule fogging for weekends, holidays or after-hours so the space has time to air before people return.
Pricing, honestly
The cost of fogging depends mainly on the size and volume of the space and how many rooms or vehicles are involved. Preparation needs, such as covering equipment or working around food areas, also affect the time on site. Regular fogging for businesses can be priced as a scheduled service rather than once-off visits.
Workplaces and schools often book fogging before the Cape winter, when people spend more time indoors with windows closed and colds and flu go around. School holidays and the December shutdown are popular times because buildings are empty. Fogging itself works in any season.
Disinfectant Fogging Treatment questions from Higgovale
Will fogging damage electronics?
ULV fogging produces a fine mist rather than wet spray, but we still cover or switch off sensitive equipment as a precaution.
Can you do it after hours?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits are available on request, which is how most businesses book it.
Do you come out to Higgovale for disinfectant fogging?
Yes. Higgovale is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Gardens, Camps Bay. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Are the scorpions in Higgovale dangerous?
Most of the ones found in mountain-side gardens have big pincers and thin tails, and their sting is painful rather than dangerous, but anyone stung should still get medical advice. We can treat the perimeter and lower rooms to reduce how many come inside.
Is it the same as fumigation?
No. Fumigation targets insects with a gas, while disinfectant fogging targets germs and bacteria on surfaces with a disinfectant mist.
Do mice come down from Table Mountain into Higgovale homes?
Yes, especially in the cold, wet months. We look for entry points along the slope side of the house, garage doors and roof edges, then set up bait and seal the gaps.
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