How to Choose the Perfect Electric Blanket for You
As winter approaches, with skyrocketing inflation and rising electricity prices , an electric blanket can be a solid investment. They’ll keep you warm, and they’re cheap to use — costing 15 to 30 cents to keep an electric blanket on for 10 hours . If you live in an old house with drafts or your utility bills are becoming a source of concern for you, an electric blanket can be the perfect solution. Here’s how to choose the one that will suit all your needs.
Choose between a heated mattress topper and an electric blanket
The first thing to consider is how you want to use your electric blanket. If you’re going to keep your bed warm at night, consider using a heated mattress topper instead of a duvet. They fit over the mattress and effectively heat the entire bed, turning it into a warm oasis in the middle of a cold house.
The downside of a heated mattress pad is the lack of portability – an electric blanket can be with you everywhere in your home. If you need portable warmth, opt for a duvet – you can find it in sizes that will cover a queen or king size bed so you can get the best of both worlds.
Look for these safety logos on any electric blanket you buy.
Any new electric blanket will be very safe to use, but it’s worth checking for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Electrical Test Laboratories (ETL) logo on any blanket you’re considering. These marks indicate that the blanket meets minimum safety standards, which reduces the chance of a malfunction that could result in an electric shock or fire. Also, look out for the auto-off feature, which will turn off the duvet after a set amount of time, so the duvet doesn’t evaporate all day long after you forget to turn it off.
Consider the material
Most electric blankets on the market are made from fleece, acrylic microfiber, or polyester microfiber. Fleece is pleasant to the touch and is a good insulator, but it tends to be a little more brittle and “rolls” more easily. Polyester or acrylic microfiber will be more durable – polyester tends to “breathe” more (so if you tend to sweat under an electric blanket, this may be your best bet), while acrylic will be a better insulator, trapping more heat. to your body. While “polyester” may conjure up the image of a 1970s disco suit, it’s a comfortable and soft material, so you can’t go wrong.
Determine what size will work best
If you’re choosing a duvet over a mattress pad, think about how you’re going to use it. Electric blankets come in a wide variety of sizes, from large bed blankets to small personal blankets. If your primary use for a blanket is watching TV in a cold room, consider a blanket that you can leave in place without cluttering the room. If you need an electric blanket that two people can comfortably snuggle under, look for the large size option.
Keep in mind how much cord (if any) you want to have
Finally, if you’re going to use a corded electric blanket, consider how long the cord should be, depending on where the outlets are in relation to beds and sofas. Make sure you have enough cord to get to where your poor, shivering body will be.
Or get rid of the cord entirely, because cordless electric blankets already exist. They come with a rechargeable battery that you charge (usually takes a few hours to charge) and their primary use is for outdoor meetings, but there’s no reason you can’t use them at home as well. Rechargeable blankets tend to be a little more expensive than their wired counterparts (one of the most popular, the Cozee Rechargeable Heated Blanket costs a mind-blowing $350), but they offer more portability and convenience if you remember to keep them charged.
Consider all additional features
Finally, consider what additional features you will need:
- Timer: Some electric blankets come with a timer feature that allows you to specify when they turn off. This is great if you are the type of person who goes to bed cold but wakes up in the middle of the night exhausted.
- Temperature Control: Some blankets come with very simple temperature settings, which can mean choosing between coolness and what scientists call “Your Ass Sweating.” A blanket with more than 3 settings, or a blanket that allows you to set specific temperature settings in degrees, gives you a lot more flexibility. And if you’re going to be sharing your blanket with someone, look for one that has dual-zone controls so you can each customize your electric blanket.
- Illuminated Controls: Waking up and fiddling with your blanket’s controls can be frustrating – a blanket with illuminated controls makes those nighttime adjustments a lot easier.
- Leg Warmers: Some electric blankets have built-in leg pockets , as well as additional limb heating. If you suffer from cold feet more than anything else, look for a blanket that advertises extra love for them.
- Can be washed in a washing machine. Electric blankets see a lot. They show up with pet hair, nacho cheese blobs and everything else as you navigate your amazingly messy life. Look for a duvet that can be covered so you can wash it from time to time.
- Suspended. If you’re comfortable with a weighted blanket, pair the saving warmth with a weighted blanket for extra fun.
- Smart application. It’s finally 2022: of course , there are smart electric blankets that sync with an app on your phone. They have several advantages: no clunky plastic control panel, lots of extra features, and finer control over your experience. A smart blanket is optional , of course, but if you like to control your blanket remotely from your phone, you can.
Electric blankets are one of those simple inventions that can really improve your quality of life, whether you’re a naturally cold person or just live in a poorly insulated home. Choose wisely and experience winter in style.