The most common ways of addressing the problem
Apparently there are no solutions or remedies that are 100% effective against bed bugs. Below is an indication of those most commonly applied to deal with the problem.
Solution A
The most common solution adopted by those aware of the risk is to completely encase the mattress and pillow in a liner-barrier, generally made of fabric coupled/coated with a film of some material that blocks passage of the bed bugs, thus creating a true and proper barrier.
Disvantages:
• if present, the bed bugs do not die, they simply do not nest in the protected product*;
• expense of the liner-barrier;
• generally such barriers are not permeable to moisture, they are heavy, noisy and, at times, emit harmful substances.
• bagging the bed in a liner-barrier is a long, cumbersome operation.
* Encasement of mattress and box spring will not prevent future bed bug infestations in your home; it will help prevent a mattress or box spring from becoming infested or being a reservoir for bed bugs, but bed bugs can still find their way onto a bed to bite. And if bed bugs cannot live in a mattress or box springs, they will live somewhere else. Encasements are a good tool, but are not sufficient to prevent or treat an infestation. Department of Helth of New York City fonte: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/bedbugs/html/basics/bed-bug-myths.shtml
Solution B
Hotels already fully aware of the terrible problem and risks related to bed bug infestations periodically apply preventive chemical treatments on the bedding components in each room.
Disvantages:
• expense of treatment which must be repeated at regular intervals;
• chemical residues in the products treated may be potentially harmful and could migrate to the guest;
• the rooms cannot be used while treatment is in progress.
Solution C
Other hotels schedule professional on-site room inspections that probe into each and every component in search for traces of bed bugs.
Disvantages:
• expense of the operation which must be repeated at regular intervals;
• inspections do not ensure that bed bugs will not be brought in the following day by a new guest.