Claremont is the Southern Suburbs' shopping and office hub, built around Cavendish Square, Main Road and the station, with leafy residential streets running up towards the mountain. Our work here swings between commercial kitchens and retail on one side and older family homes with big trees on the other.
Cockroaches in Claremont kitchens and flats
German cockroaches spread between restaurant kitchens on Claremont's Main Road and the flats above them. Student lets and rental flats near the shopping district also see them.
We use gel baits and dusts in cracks and appliance voids, and we offer restaurants scheduled visits with written reports. In blocks of flats, treating several units together lasts much longer. In older Claremont houses we also find American cockroaches coming up through floor drains and outside gullies on warm nights. They live in the sewer lines, and a drain treatment and fine mesh over gully grids keeps most of them out. They are a different problem from the small German cockroaches in kitchens and need a different treatment.
Being close to Newlands and the mountain, Claremont is one of the wetter parts of Cape Town in winter, so damp walls and soggy gardens are normal. Large oaks and plane trees line the streets, and Arderne Gardens holds an old collection of big trees.
What gives them away
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Cockroaches walk through drains, rubbish and decaying matter and then over plates, counters and food, spreading bacteria that can cause food poisoning and stomach illness. Proteins in their droppings, saliva and shed skins are a well-known trigger for asthma and allergies, particularly in children. German cockroaches can build up to thousands in a single kitchen within months. For restaurants, takeaways and food factories, a single cockroach seen by a customer or inspector can lead to complaints, bad reviews or a forced closure.
From the technician
Foggers and bug bombs feel like they should work, but cockroaches simply retreat into walls and neighbouring units until the fog settles. They often come back in bigger numbers.
A lot of people think cockroaches mean the house is dirty. German cockroaches very often arrive in delivery boxes or second-hand appliances, and a clean house just gives them fewer places to feed.
What happens when we come out
Gel bait is the backbone of most cockroach treatments. It is placed in tiny spots inside hinges, cracks and appliance housings where cockroaches feed, and because they feed on each other's droppings, the bait passes through the population. We add an insect growth regulator for German cockroaches so the young cannot mature and breed. For American cockroaches, we treat floor drains, manholes and entry points with a residual product, and use dusts in wall voids and ceiling spaces. We avoid broad spraying of open surfaces because it is less effective and adds unnecessary chemicals to your home.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our cockroach control service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Keep floor drains covered and run water down little-used drains weekly so the traps stay full.
- Take rubbish out every evening and keep outside bins with tight lids away from doors.
- Seal gaps where pipes and cables pass through walls under sinks and behind appliances.
- Never leave dirty dishes or pots in the sink overnight.
- Clean behind and under the stove and fridge every few months, since grease build-up there feeds a lot of cockroaches.
How much will it cost?
Price depends largely on the species and how big the population is, with German cockroaches in a well-established kitchen taking more time and usually a follow-up visit. The size of the home or business, the number of units involved and the amount of equipment and cupboards to treat all affect the quote. Restaurants and food businesses often go onto a regular contract, which tends to work out better value than repeated once-off treatments, and the quote is free.
American cockroaches are most active in the hot summer months, when they come up from warm drains and sewers at night. German cockroaches breed all year round because they live indoors near stoves, fridges and geysers. Heavy winter rain can flood drains and push cockroaches into homes in large numbers.
Questions we get asked in Claremont
Can you treat a whole block of flats?
Yes, and it is the best way to deal with German cockroaches in a block. Treating one flat while the neighbours are infested usually leads to quick reinfestation.
How many treatments will I need?
American cockroaches often need just one. German cockroaches usually need a second visit a few weeks later to deal with nymphs hatching from protected egg cases.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
For gel bait treatments, no. If residual products are used in certain areas, we will tell you how long to keep children and pets away, usually just until it has dried.
Why do I get cockroaches in my flat above a Claremont restaurant?
German cockroaches move up through shared walls and plumbing. Treating the restaurant and the flats together is the lasting fix.
Why am I seeing more cockroaches after the treatment?
For a few days, cockroaches affected by the bait often come out into the open before they die. This is normal, and numbers should drop clearly within one to two weeks.
How did I get German cockroaches in a clean house?
They usually hitch a ride in grocery boxes, appliances, furniture or bags, or move in from a neighbouring unit. Cleanliness helps control them, but it does not stop them from arriving.
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