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.
The local picture in Claremont
Fruit flies and houseflies trouble the cafés and food outlets, and paper wasps nest in the eaves and hedges of houses in the leafy streets.
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.
Upper Claremont has large older homes and newer cluster developments on generous, tree-filled plots, while the lower side near Main Road has flats, offices and shops packed close together. Older homes have wooden floors, sash windows and outbuildings that give pests plenty of hiding places.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Flies feed and lay eggs on rubbish and faeces, then walk on food and prep surfaces, carrying bacteria that cause stomach illness. House flies also spit and defecate while they feed, which is why fly specks on surfaces matter. In restaurants, butcheries and food factories, a fly problem can fail an inspection and damage a reputation quickly. Stable flies and biting flies stress horses and livestock and can affect animal condition.
A note from the field
For tenants and landlords, flies often come down to who maintains the drains and the bin area. Sorting that out on paper saves a lot of arguments later.
In food businesses, light traps are as much about information as killing flies. A quick look at the glue board tells us whether numbers are rising and what kind of fly is getting in.
What happens when we come out
Fly control works from the ground up, so we start with sanitation: bins, compost, drains, grease traps, animal waste and anything else they can breed in. Drains and grease traps are scrubbed and treated with a bio-enzyme or larvicide that breaks down the breeding film, and we treat larvae where they are found. For adult flies we use bait stations or bait paint away from food areas and a residual spray on the surfaces where flies rest, such as window frames, walls near bins and outside walls by doors. Commercial kitchens and food plants get insect light traps with glue boards, placed where they catch flies without drawing them towards open food. ULV fogging is kept for large spaces that need a fast knockdown, never as the only treatment.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our fly control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Rinse and disinfect wheelie bins regularly in summer and keep the lids shut, since a closed bin breeds far fewer flies.
- Clean floor drains and grease traps on a schedule, not only when they smell.
- Pick up dog mess daily, because it is one of the most common fly breeding sites in Cape Town gardens.
- Fit screens or fly curtains on doors that stay open, especially the kitchen back door.
- Double-bag meat scraps and bones and put them out on collection day rather than leaving them in the bin all week.
How much will it cost?
The cost of fly control depends mainly on how many breeding sites there are and how much work it takes to reach them. A home with a drain fly problem is a short job, while a food factory, abattoir or busy restaurant usually needs light traps, drain treatments and regular visits. Contracts work out better value for businesses that need ongoing monitoring, and we quote for free after a look at the site.
Honestly, a lot of household fly problems can be fixed at home with clean bins, screens and a good drain scrub, and we tell customers that. Fly sprays on their own are a waste of money because they do nothing about the next batch hatching. Get a professional in when you cannot find the source, when there are maggots or a smell in the roof, or when you run a food business and need records for an inspection.
Questions we get asked in Claremont
How do I get rid of fruit flies?
Remove the ripe fruit, clean up spills and check under the fridge and in the recycling. A simple vinegar trap catches the stragglers, and if they persist, a drain is usually involved.
Do you help restaurants with health inspections?
Yes. We set up light traps, carry out scheduled treatments and give you a post-treatment report for every visit, which is what inspectors want to see.
Where are all these flies coming from?
Usually from something close by: a bin, compost heap, pet waste, a drain or a dead animal in the roof. Flies rarely travel far when they have somewhere good to breed.
Will fly spray fix the problem?
No. It kills the adults you hit, but new flies keep hatching. Removing and treating the breeding site is what makes the difference.
Why are there suddenly loads of big flies in one room?
That is almost always blowflies hatching from a dead rat, mouse or bird in the ceiling or wall. Once the carcass is found and removed, they stop.
Do you come out to Claremont for fly control?
Yes. Claremont is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Newlands, Kenilworth, Harfield Village, Rondebosch. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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