News Beat
The best electric blankets to keep you warm on cold nights
As the cold weather approaches and energy bills remain high, we’re all looking for low-cost ways to keep warm this winter.
An electric blanket is a simple way of staying warm at home without turning the heating up. Costing less than 1p per hour to run, they can keep you cosy in bed or on the sofa, depending on whether you use an electric underblanket or mattress topper, or a heated throw or overblanket.
They’re safe to use too – as long as you do so properly – says Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First: “Electric blankets are a cheap and effective way to keep warm in the colder months. They work by using thin, insulated wires embedded within the fabric to generate heat when electricity flows through them.”
Some models, like those from Silentnight and Dunelm, are available for £40 or less, but you can pay over £100 for premium versions with different heat zones, including those from Dreamland, Beurer and The White Company.
The best electric blankets: At a glance
How to choose the best electric blanket
Start by deciding whether you want an underblanket or mattress topper, which go underneath your bedsheets, or a heated throw which lies on top of you on the sofa.
Then, the main points to consider are the electric blanket’s comfort, ease of use, energy efficiency and safety features. Look for soft, thick fabrics which cushion the wires. Anything too thin can be uncomfortable or feel too hot to touch.
If you and your partner prefer different temperatures, an electric underblanket or mattress topper with dual controls will stop arguments by enabling you to heat each side of the bed separately. Some have separate controls for warming the feet and body differently, too.
“Look for electric blankets that have built-in safety features like automatic shut-off and overheat protection and don’t buy them second hand as you won’t know the history of the blanket,” says Capanna.
Generally, it’s not advisable to wash electric blankets too often. But, it is worth reading the washing instructions carefully too, as while most electric blankets today are “machine washable”, some tolerate it better than others.
Finally, check the guarantee period as this will indicate the quality and durability of the product.
