Buying Electric Blankets

When you're buying an electric blanket, there are several things that you want to watch out for to make sure that you're getting a top quality and safe product. Let's take a look at what you need to know.

Knowing how an electric blanket works can go a long way towards helping you get a good one. Electric blankets have a network of insulated metal wiring going throughout the area of the blanket. When you plug in the cord and turn the blanket on, the electricity reacts with the wiring and creates heat.

The insulation around the wiring keeps the blanket fabric from getting too hot, and leading to scorching or burning (of either the blanket itself or anything that it's in contact with). Once you know this, it's pretty easy to see what the most important thing about electric blankets is: making sure that the blanket you're looking at is a good quality product. Go with name brand items, and make sure that they are new and well made before you buy one. If you buy a cheap electric blanket, the wiring insulation could very easily be sub-standard, and this could lead to the blanket producing unsafe levels of heat.

The next thing to look for, safety-wise, is a low voltage blanket. Most electric blankets usually use around 120 volts to operate, and this is fine. There are some newer blankets though that only use 25 volts to operate. Lower voltage means less risk of too much power coming through, and potentially scorching the blanket or starting a fire.

You also want to make sure to get a blanket that will turn itself off after a certain number of hours. It's very easy to get up in the morning and forget to turn your blanket off. While most blankets are safe enough to leave running, there's no reason to risk it. Getting a blanket with an auto-off feature means you don't have to worry about it yourself.

Now that we've got the safety concerns out of the way, what else should you look for in an electric blanket? Well, comfort is probably going to be your number one priority at this point. The blanket you buy should be soft (not rough) just like any other blanket you buy. You'll also want to make sure that the wires are not so stiff that the blanket has trouble bending and folding.

If you're planning on getting your blanket primarily for use on your bed, then you'll definitely want to get the size of blanket that matches your bed. Electric blankets come in twin, full, queen and king size, so you won't have any trouble finding the right one.

If, on the other hand, you're planning on using your blanket in other places as well, you might consider going with a smaller size blanket. It's easier to bring a smaller blanket around with you than a larger one, and two small ones will work just as well on a large bed as one blanket does.

As great as electric blankets are, there are times that they are not the best choice for the job at hand. If all you want to do is warm your bed, and don't think you'll need to move your blanket at all, then you can consider an electric heated mattress pad. These mattress pads come large enough to fit most mattresses, often have dual controls for different temperatures on each side, and offer greater effeciency than some electric blankets.

You can also find electric blankets designed for the car, with a plug that fits into your car's power outlet or cigarette lighter. These are great for couples that quibble over the temperature of the car while traveling. This way both people can be happy.

Lastly, if you're going to be in a situation where electricity won't be readily available (camping, for instance) or if an blanket just won't be practical, you can also consider heating pads. There are many different types of electric heating pads that might be a more practical option for traveling, and also several types of pads that don't require electricity to run at all.

For information on more home and garden topics,  check out the links to my other Hubs below.

• Hillarys Blinds
• A guide to conservatory blinds
• Baby crib guide
• Choosing a good baby stroller