Plattekloof sits high on the Tygerberg Hills above the N1, so most of our calls here are about pests coming in from the hillside rather than from neighbours. Big gardens, open veld on the ridge and a busy office node lower down give it a mix of household and commercial work.
Crawling insects around Plattekloof
Brown house ants and black garden ants are steady in summer, and the rocky gardens give scorpions and rain spiders places to hide. Large kitchens and pantries can carry German cockroaches if they get in with deliveries.
Most homes are large, freestanding family houses from the 1970s onwards, with tiled roofs, double garages and a fair number of pools. There are also townhouse complexes and the office parks off Plattekloof Road. The bigger houses have plenty of roof void and garage storage, which is where rodents and cockroaches settle in unnoticed. Office blocks and their kitchens need regular scheduled checks rather than once-off sprays.
Mice and roof rats moving in from the veld edge each autumn are the main complaint. In summer it shifts to ants, wasps around the eaves and the odd scorpion in garden walls. Office kitchens and canteens in the business parks mostly need German cockroach control.
What gives them away
- You keep finding small pale spiders in bedding, curtains or clothing that has been left folded.
- Fresh webs reappear in the same corners, window frames and eaves within days of being brushed down.
- Cast skins and dead insects collect along skirting boards and in the backs of cupboards.
- Egg sacs, often round and papery or spiky in the case of the brown button spider, are stuck to brickwork or furniture.
- Someone in the house wakes with a small, red, sometimes blistered bite that was not there the night before.
- Outside lights draw a cloud of moths and midges each night with webs built right around them.
A note from the field
Daddy longlegs are often said to be the most venomous spider in the world with fangs too weak to bite. It is a myth. They are harmless to people and actually prey on other spiders, so a few in the corners of the house are not worth losing sleep over.
How we handle spider control in Plattekloof
We start by identifying the species, because a rain spider on the wall and a nest of button spiders by the jungle gym call for very different responses. Webs and egg sacs are removed by hand or vacuum first, which takes out a surprising amount of the next generation. We then apply a residual spray or a fine insecticide dust into the places spiders actually live: roof voids, behind fitted units, wall cavities, garages, eaves and window reveals, keeping it away from where children and pets play. Where insects are drawing the spiders in, we treat or advise on that food source too, because spiders follow their prey. Finally we point out gaps around doors, vents and pipes that need sealing.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our spider control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Fit fine mesh to vents and seal the gaps around pipes and under doors with sealant or brush strips.
- Shake out shoes, gardening gloves and clothes that have been left on the floor or in the garage before you put them on.
- Swap white outdoor bulbs for warm yellow or LED ones so fewer insects gather, which means fewer spiders setting up around your doors.
- Pull beds slightly away from the wall and keep bedding off the floor to reduce night-time bites from sac spiders.
- Brush down webs regularly and vacuum the corners and the backs of cupboards, which gets rid of egg sacs before they hatch.
How much will it cost?
The cost depends mainly on the size of the property and how many outbuildings, garages and roof spaces need treatment. A house with a heavy insect problem feeding the spiders takes more work than one with a few webs in the corners. We give a free quote after a quick look or a WhatsApp photo, and contract clients get spiders covered as part of their routine visits.
Spider activity climbs from late spring and peaks in the hot, dry months from January to March, which is exactly when rain spiders come indoors and people start to notice them. Button spiders are most visible in summer around gardens and pools. In the wet winter months many spiders retreat into roof spaces and garages, so a treatment then catches them where they shelter.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have so many spiders this year?
Usually because there is more for them to eat. A warm spell, a lot of outdoor lighting or an underlying insect problem will bring spiders in behind it.
Will the treatment harm my pets?
We treat cracks, voids and roof spaces rather than open floors, and we ask that pets are kept out until surfaces are dry. We will explain any specific precautions on the day.
Do you come out to Plattekloof for spider control?
Yes. Plattekloof is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Panorama, Parow, Monte Vista, Goodwood. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can you service the office parks in Plattekloof after hours?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits can be arranged on request so staff are not disturbed. We leave a post-treatment report so building managers have a record.
Why do I get more mice in Plattekloof when it starts raining?
The first cold fronts flush mice out of the veld on the hill and they head for warm roofs and garages. Proofing entry points in April and May usually stops the seasonal wave.
How long does a spider treatment last?
A residual treatment keeps working for a good while, and our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee. New spiders can still wander in from the garden, which is why sealing gaps and fixing outdoor lighting matters.
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