Our best electric blanket reviews 2018 offers you a choice of the 5 best electric blankets we have found in our research. Heated blankets are very welcome to most people in winter or whenever it is cold, but it is important that you choose one that is not only effective but is also safe to use.
What do you want from an electric blanket? Warmth and comfort, sure! But how about safety?
Safety and Comfort - In That Order!
Our best electric blanket reviews 2018 offers you a choice of the 5 best electric blankets we have found in our research with regard to safety and comfort. Always keep in mind that you are sleeping on or under an electrically heated blanket! It must be resistant to spillages or 'accidents!' Water and electricity don't go well together.
We have taken many factors into account when compiling our best electric blanket reviews in 2018. Safety came first, and then the comfort and ease of use.
Best Electric Blankets
Note: All blankets are of Polyester. * This is the top electric throw we could find.
Table of Contents
1. Sunbeam Microplush Heated Blanket
Many people like to use this heated blanket to heat up their bed before they retire for the night. However, there are no hard and fast rules for its use! As previously stated, it can be used over the mattress or sheets to heat up your bed in advance, or as an over-blanket to keep you warm when in bed.
Editor's Notes: Many people use this electric heated blanket as an over-blanket, while others use it on the mattress or sheets to heat up the bed prior to retiring. They then switch it off. If what you want is a means of warming your bed, then falling asleep in a warm bed, then the Sunbeam Microplush heated blanket is an ideal choice. It is thin, and easy to use.
Purchase This Product on Amazon2. Sunbeam Quilted Fleece Heated Blanket
You can set the electric blanket to any of 10 heat settings, and the ThermoFine heat control technology ensures that the temperate remains constant. The heat controller has a 10-hour shutoff option that cuts the power after a set period of time. This electric blanket it really easy to control which makes it safe to use. It is machine washable and dryable.
Look how does it look:
Actual Texture in zoom view:
Editor's Notes: The Sunbeam quilted fleece heated blanket is a good quality electric blanket. You can use it as an under-blanket or an over-blanket, and it offers 9 different heat settings. Although some areas may get hotter than others, this should not a problem if the blanket is spread out smoothly. Heating wires do not like being creased or scrunched up.
Purchase This Product on AmazonMost who use the Sunbeam Quilted Fleece electric blanket find it good for them, although some appear to be unsure what a heated blanket is for. Read out Buyer's Guide below for information on how to choose and use an electric heated blanket correctly. Like all machine-washable electric blankets, do not use the spin dry cycle! If you are looking for a heated throw that you can use before going to bed, then our next suggestion is the perfect solution.
3. Sunbeam Microplush Heated Throw
The Sunbeam Microplush heated throw differs from the firm's heated blanket in a number of ways, but is also similar in others. Like the other Sunbeam products above, the heated throw senses the temperature and adjusts it to maintain a constant level of warmth. Simply place it on the bed and it will keep you warm for as long as you wish. Some people use this for their pets - dogs in particular seem to love it. However, as will be explained later, we do not recommend allowing sharp-clawed pets to lie on top of any electrically heated blanked or throw.
Editor's Notes: This is a throw that people can use on their beds, or to keep them warm when sitting on a chair or sofa. Because of this, some tend to prefer this to an electric blanket. Some heated blankets can be heavy, and unsuitable for using outside the bed. If you want a fairly lightweight heated blanket that you can use when watching TV or in bed, then this is a great choice.
Purchase This Product on Amazon4. SoftHeat Luxury Micro-Fleece Electric Heated Blanket
The SoftHeat luxury micro-fleece electric blanket is a luxuriously fleeced heated blanket that is very comfortable in your bed. It can be machine washed and dried but do not use the spin feature of your washing machine. In fact, no electrically heated blankets should be spin dried. That's because the spin can crease the blanket and the wires within it and lead to overheating in kinked wires.
Editor's Notes: This is an excellent machine-washable electric heated blanket that offers a number of useful features. You can use it to preheat your bed before you retire for the night, or as an under-blanket or over-blanket as you prefer. It is easy to clean, but make sure you cut the spin dry feature of your machine. That is likely to compress the wires and lead to localized overheating.
Purchase This Product on Amazon5. Biddeford Micro-Plush Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket
The Biddeford Micro-Plush Sherpa electrically heated blanket claims to help you save money on heating since when using this electric blanket you have no need for space heating in your home. At least not if the whole family is asleep! As with all those above, the heated blanket comes with digital controls that can be used to set your ideal temperature.
Editor's Notes: The Biddeford Micro-Plush Sherpa electrically heated blanket is another excellent example of this type of electric blanket. You can use it to heat your bed in advance, particularly in winter, or as an over-blanket to keep you warm while trying to get to sleep. The very thin heating wires help to avoid getting cold while they heat you and your bed up to a comfortable temperature.
Purchase This Product on AmazonBuyer's Guide to the Best Electric Blankets: How to Choose and Use a Heated Blanket
Here is a guide to buying the best electric blanket for your needs. Our advice on how to choose a heated blanket will enable you to avoid the basic errors that people make when buying this type of blanket. First, let's have an explanation of how electric blankets work.
What Are Electric Blankets?
Electric blankets contain insulated wires that are threaded through the fabric of the blanket, fleece or throw. When electricity is passed through these wires, they heat up and in turn heat the fabric. The amount which they heat up depends on the power passed through the wires.
That's why the best heated blankets have a number of power settings - 10 being common for most brands. The higher the setting, the higher the temperature the wires will reach. Most electric blankets start from 18 to 25 Celsius up to around 50 - 55 Celsius. Before we go any further into the technical aspects of electric blankets, let's first consider some different types.
- Electric Under-Blankets: Electric under-blankets are designed to heat the surface of your bed: the mattress or the sheet you will be lying on. It will usually be attached to the mattress with straps or ties. This type of electric blanket will usually be covered over with a sheet to protect you from the heat generated by the blanket.
- Electric Over-Blankets: Electric Over-blankets are used just like regular blankets. They can be used under your duvet or even inside the duvet cover. An electric over-blanket can help you to maintain a regular temperature throughout the night. They are usually available in standard bed sizes to match the dimensions of your bed or mattress.
- Heated Throws: A heated throw is versatile - it can be used in any of several situations. You can use it to keep warm when lying in bed or on a sofa, or even when sitting in a chair feeling cold. You can use an electric heated throw anywhere there is a convenient power source to keep you warm in any circumstances.
The Benefits of Electric Heated Blankets
Heated electric blankets have many benefits. If we forget the health benefits possible by keeping warm when sleeping, let's first start on money! Electric blankets tend to be energy-efficient. They cost very little to run! If you use your electric blanket to help keep you warm then you are sure to need less domestic electricity to keep you warm. You will rely less on your heating during the day and keep your bills down. You can use the blanket during the day as a less expensive heating source than your space heating would cost.
Heating your bed with heated blankets can help you to avoid some issues such as arthritic pain and backache. Not only that, but heat reduces the humidity of your bed and in so doing reduces the likelihood of dust mites infesting your bed. This can help allergy suffers avoid many of the perils that spring brings to them. Heat also helps the blood flow around those areas that can be affected - areas such as the neck down the spine to its base - the coccyx.
What should you be looking for when buying one? Here are some buying tips to help choose the heated blanket or throw best suited to you.
1. Cord Length
Make sure you check the cord length. It can be a nuisance if you find that the cord is too short to lead from the socket to your bed! Sure, you can get an extension lead, but it can be inconvenient particularly if you have to purchase one. So make sure the cord is long enough. If you are purchasing online, such as from Amazon, ask the question if the cord length is not stated.
2. Always Buy New
Most issued with electric blankets occur in those over 10 years old. You may think you are getting a great bargain with a second-hand or used heated blanket, but this is unlikely. The previous owner changed it for a reason! Old blankets may not be fitted with the latest safety features or power-saving devices. The newer models tend to measure the temperature of the blanket and the body temperature of the user and adjust the heat level accordingly. Older models will go straight to the set temperature regardless.
3. Check for These Features:
Check for the following features in your electric heated blanket. They are useful to have, but may not be fitted to all blankets.
- Timer: A timer enables you to switch the electric blanket on and off automatically. You can set it to switch on an hour or 30 minutes before bed time so the bed is nice and warm for you. You can set it to switch off at a certain time so it is not on all night.
- Heat Settings: Make sure that you have variable heat settings, and that your electric blanket does not operate only on an 'on-off' basis. Settings may be stated in terms of temperature or on a 1 - 10 scale. A temperature scale of around 15C to 55C (59F - 130F) or thereabouts is normal, give or take a few degrees. The higher temperature is too hot sleep in, but can be used for a rapid warm-up of your bed.
- Overheat Protection: This is essential. The blanket will shut itself off if it senses overheating.
- Temperature Sensors: Temperature sensors in the blanket can detect your body temperature and the room temperature and set the blanket heat according to these measurements. This is useful since it maintains a heat level that is comfortable for you - and makes sure you do not overheat!
- Dual Controls: If your partner prefers a cooler or warmer bed than you, then it is possible to purchase an electric blanket with dual controls. You will need 2 sockets for this, but it's worth it if allows each partner to set his or her preferred temperature. Our #5 choice offers this feature. Although listed at #5, it should be borne in mind that these are the best 5 electric heated blankets that we could find.
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Warranty: The above features are the main factors that you should consider prior to purchasing an electric blanket. Another is the issue of warranty or guarantee. If your electric heated blanket works as it should do (and the vast majority do) then you should have no problems. However, if you do have a problem, the situation is this:
When you purchase any item online there is likely to be a number of warranty conditions. Make sure you understand what these conditions are. You have three levels of responsibility with online sales, and each could have its own warranty conditions.- The Manufacturer's warranty
- The Seller's warranty
- The Distributor's warranty
Make sure you read the warranty conditions and also any warranty offered by the selling company. If you purchase from a company such as Amazon, the Seller has to give you a free of charge (including return costs) repair, replacement or refund for a "reasonable time" following the sale. This 'reasonable time' will likely come in terms of warranty period: say one year, 5 years or 10 years.
That time will vary depending on the product and its value. However, if you make such a claim more than 6 months from delivery, you may need to prove that the fault existed at the time of delivery of the product and wasn't caused by, for example, an accident, misuse, liquid damage, etc. Most warranties apply only for manufacturing defects.
Best Electric Blanket Reviews - Frequently Asked Questions
Electric Blanket Buyer's Guide: Conclusion
If you read the buyer's guide for heated blankets above, then you should be able to seek and purchase the electric heated blanket that best meets your needs. Our best electric blanket reviews 2018 have presented the top 5 recommendations that we can make having surveyed the market. Our choices are based on user feedback and also our own research into the benefits of each item.
If you still have questions regarding your choice, or about the benefits of electrically heated blankets to your health, then here are some frequently asked questions that we have received - and answered.
Summary
