September 13th, 2018 by Chris Chapman

As the weather starts to turn, you’ll probably be thinking about ways to keep warm over the winter. This can lead to stress over heating bills, especially as the cost of energy keeps rising year after year. You might have heard that electric blankets can reduce that stress as they can keep you cosy for a fraction of the cost of your central heating – but are they all they’re cracked up to be? You can’t use them when you’re pregnant, and they’re uncomfortable and ugly – or so you might have heard. As we’ll explain below, this isn’t exactly true anymore, so read on for a list of the most common misconceptions surrounding electric blankets!

1. Electric Blankets are Uncomfortable and Full of Wires

The electric blankets of times gone by might have been thin and full of thick, clunky wires, but in the modern age, this usually isn’t true. Electric blankets still do use wires to heat up, but nowadays the wires are so thin you shouldn’t be able to feel them if you get a blanket made of thick, soft material. Be aware, however, that not all blankets are created equal! Some cheaper blankets are less comfy than others, and you might still be able to feel the wires inside. A good guide to go on is to consult Which? Magazine for their Best Buy range of blankets. One of the tests Which? carries out to determine their Best Buy blankets is a test to ensure the blanket is comfortable to lie on, meaning you shouldn’t be able to feel any wires inside the blanket. Some blankets, such as these luxurious Homefront blankets, are so comfortable that you might want to leave them on your bed all year round to replace your fitted sheet!

2. Electric Blankets Can’t Be Used Under Your Duvet

Advances in heating technology mean that many electric blankets are now packed with safety features so you can safely use them under your duvet. It used to be that heated blankets would get too warm if you used them under your duvet, but nowadays many electric blankets are specifically designed to be used as a fitted sheet. Any electric blanket that’s designed for use under your duvet will have some form of overheat protection that means it shuts off if it ever gets too hot. This means you can leave them running through the night as you drift off to sleep with complete peace of mind.

3. Electric Blankets Waste Energy

If you’ve got an old electric blanket that’s been sitting on top of your wardrobe since the 90s, then it probably isn’t that energy efficient. Many people assume that just because their old electric blankets guzzle electricity, all electric blankets must waste energy. That’s not the case! Modern electric blankets are designed to heat up quickly and efficiently while retaining heat well in their cosy material. This means some heated blankets, such as this Sweet Dreams fitted electric blanket, can cost as little as 2p per night to use! Electric blankets only heat you rather than your whole room, so they use much less energy you’re your central heating. They’re perfect for keeping cosy in bed or on the sofa – in fact, if you get an oversized heated throw, you can snuggle down with the whole family to keep everyone warm for less on a cold night!

4. You Can’t Use Electric Blankets When Pregnant

There’s no research that shows electric blankets are harmful if you’re pregnant. The myth is that electric blankets give off electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which many people think can harm your baby, but the truth is that electric blankets don’t give off any stronger EMFs than other everyday things such as mobile phones, TVs, and fridges. In fact, using an electric blanket on the sofa or while you’re in bed may actually help you during pregnancy as it’ll improve circulation around your body. This helps reduce some of the side-effects of pregnancy like swollen ankles. You do need to be careful not to overheat as raising your body temperature too high can be bad for your baby, but unless you have an old electric blanket without any safety features, this won’t be a problem. Modern electric blankets will stay at an even temperature, and even if they do start to warm up, they’ll shut off long before they heat up enough to harm your baby. It’s not recommended to use electric blankets in bed if you’re more than 8 months pregnant, however. This is just in case your waters break during the night.

5. You Can’t Clean Electric Blankets Properly

Many people assume that you can’t wash electric blankets because they’re full of electrical components, but this isn’t true. The blanket itself only contains thin metal wires which aren’t damaged by water. The only part of the blanket that contains sensitive components is the controller, which you can detach from your blanket when you want to wash it. What all of this means is you can just pop your electric blanket into the washing machine like the rest of your bedding! One thing to be wary of, though, is that some cheaper electric blankets will retain a lot of water after a cycle in the washing machine, so they might take a while to dry. The extra water weight can also lead to some blankets becoming stretched, meaning the wires can be displaced so the heat won’t be evenly spread around the blanket. We’d advise putting your comfort first by picking up a quality brand of heated blanket such as Sweet Dreams, Homefront, or Dreamland so that you won’t have any issues when washing your blanket.