Three Anchor Bay is a tiny pocket of the Atlantic Seaboard between Green Point and Sea Point, with the rocky bay and promenade at its feet. It is mostly apartments, so pest problems tend to be shared ones.
The local picture in Three Anchor Bay
Short-stay rentals need disinfection between guests, and body corporates ask for refuse room and lift lobby sanitising. Restaurants nearby use fogging between deep cleans.
The ocean is right there, so salt air and sea spray corrode vent covers and mesh quickly. Signal Hill rises behind the suburb, and its slopes give rodents a natural starting point. Winter cold fronts come straight off the Atlantic, pushing pests into the warmth of buildings.
Older apartment blocks from the mid-twentieth century stand next to modern glass buildings and a handful of converted homes. Shared ducts, garbage chutes and basement parking make it easy for cockroaches and rats to move between floors. Ground-floor units and those near the refuse rooms usually see trouble first.
German cockroaches in the older blocks are the most common issue. Rats from the promenade, Signal Hill and restaurants nearby are next. Pigeons and gulls are a real nuisance on balconies and roofs.
How to tell you have a problem
- You are about to reopen a space that was closed because of illness.
- Normal cleaning has been done, but nobody has wiped door handles, light switches and lift buttons properly.
- A client, landlord or head office has asked for proof that the premises were disinfected.
- Several people in the same office or household have fallen ill within a few days of each other.
- A staff member, resident or regular visitor has tested positive or gone home sick with flu-like symptoms.
- Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or anyone on chemotherapy, live or work in the building.
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
For homes with small children or pets, the main rule is simple: everybody out during the treatment, windows open afterwards, and wait out the re-entry time we give you.
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.
What happens when we come out
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
- Place hand sanitiser at entrances, the kitchen and the till, and keep it topped up.
- Open windows where you can. Cape Town's south-easter is good for something, and moving air dilutes airborne virus.
- 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.
Pricing, honestly
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 Three Anchor Bay
Do you come out to Three Anchor Bay for COVID-19 disinfection?
Yes. Three Anchor Bay is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Sea Point, Green Point, Mouille Point, Fresnaye. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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.
Can you put up pigeon netting on my sea-facing balcony?
Yes, balcony netting is one of our most requested bird proofing jobs on the Atlantic Seaboard. Check with your body corporate first, as some buildings have rules about what can be installed.
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 cockroaches keep coming back to my Three Anchor Bay flat?
In older blocks, German cockroaches move between units through shared ducts and pipes. Treating only your flat helps, but a whole-building programme through the body corporate gives lasting results.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254