I grew up using an electric blanket and it seemed to work quite well. I remember hearing stories of people leaving them on all day and having house fires which probably hurt sales, but the modern electric blankets are definitely much safer. Electric blankets are great for cold weather climates where heating your entire house or even a room doesn't make financial sense. Why pay $1's/day to heat your home at night when you can spend pennies and still keep warm with an electric blanket. There are electric warming blankets, electric throw blankets, heated warming blankets, and heated mattress pads. You can buy electric blankets for any bed size - king (California King), queen, twin, or full. The electric blanket is put on top of your bed sheet and below any comforter or extra blankets you may have. The best electric blankets will heat up in less than 15 minutes and all have timers you can set to go on and off automatically. There are even dual control electric blankets (king or queen sizes) that allow seperate settings on each side of the blanket so each person can have their comfortable heat setting.
The top brand names in electric blankets are Sunbeam, Beautyrest, Biddeford, Chattam & Wells, Martex, and Sealy. You can expect to pay about $110 for a basic king electric blanket from Sunbeam but a smaller twin size from Biddeford will cost only $43. We read customer reviews on several websites that sell electric blankets and visited Amazon.com, Comforthouse.com, ElectricBlanket.net to see what the newest and best electric blankets are on the market. One of the top sellers is the Sunbeam "Basic" Electric Blanket - Queen size ($89.99) it's machine washable, has a SmartSense Ambient temperature control and 10 warming settings. Owners say the 2 controllers for dual temperature control work precisely and keep both people warm all night. Turn down the thermostat, turn on the Sunbeam, and save money during the cold winter months. You can buy the same model Sunbeam as a twin ($49.99), full size ($69.99), or king ($109.99). Another popular luxury warming blanket is the Simmons Beautyrest Worldclass electric blanket for $94/queen. It's rated as one of the softest blankets on the market and comes with a patented Safety Watch system that performs 120 safety checks per second. The 10 hour shut off is what customers like the best but they also say the 10 temperature setting dial is easy to set and gives consistent heating throughout the night. The Chattam & Wells Heated Electric Blanket ($124.95) is a high end favorite and considered one of the lightest blankets around. It's also one of the few heated blankets that will maintain its original size after being washed. The 5-year warranty assures buyers of a quality product. There are no bulky wires and the Chattam & Wells electric blanket is considered "The World's Safest Electric Blanket" with its Safe & Warm technology. The Biddeford Delightful Nights Electric Warming Blanket is a great value for $89.99/queen - has therapeutic warmth, a digital control, and makes an excellent gift.
Heated Mattress Pad:
Looking for a little heat below your body, then perhaps an electric blanket is not the right choice. Go with a heated mattress pad for your warming needs. The Chattam & Wells Heated Mattress Pad fits all mattresses up to 15" and the king size pad sells for $116. Pre-warms much like an electric blanket and works silently. If you have a thicker mattress, then consider the Biddeford Quilted Heated Mattress Pad that fits mattresses up to 18 inches deep. Both heated mattress pads come with 2 digital controllers for each side of the bed. One other model that consumers ranked highly was the ElectroWarmth Heated Mattress Bed Warmer ($117/queen) - a nice fitted mattress pad for up to 14" thick mattresses.
Travel Electric Blankets:
These are great inventions - portable electric blankets that you can take on vacation or on a road trip. Men and women have been arguing for years about the air conditioning in hotel rooms, car, etc. Now women can travel with an electric blanket that easily plugs into 12 volt plugs. 12 volt electric blankets are cheap to power and work effectively. The Comfy Cruise Electric Car Blanket ($33) - made of 100% polyester fleece and a 7 foot cord which makes it easy to use in the back seat or front seat of any car. The ability to plug the fleece electric blanket into the cigarette lighter socket and warm up is what makes these blankets special. Amazon sells a slightly less expensive 12 Volt Electric Travel Blanket for $26 from RoadPro.
Electric Blanket Safety Tips:
Electric blankets can still be a safety hazard if not used properly or kept in good working condition. Please follow some basic guidelines for safety below:
Buy new blankets when possible, 2nd hand blankets may not be safe
Read the manufacturers instructions carefully
Never use the blanket if it’s wet or creased
Don't wash the electric blanket unless the manufacturer's guidelines say it is safe to do so
Check the plug cord for any signs of wear or damage
Have an expert check your blanket every 3 years to ensure that it is running properly and safe to use
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