Welcome to our large electric blanket test 2023. Here we present all the electric blankets we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best electric blanket for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy an electric blanket.
Contents
- 1 Summary
- 2 The Best Electric blanket: Our Picks
- 3 Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying an electric blanket
- 3.1 How does an electric blanket work?
- 3.2 How much does an electric blanket cost?
- 3.3 How big should my electric blanket be?
- 3.4 Are electric blankets harmful to health?
- 3.5 Are electric blankets dangerous?
- 3.6 How much electricity does an electric blanket consume?
- 3.7 What are the alternatives to electric blankets?
- 4 Decision: What types of electric blankets are there and which is the right one for you?
- 5 Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate electric blankets
- 6 Facts worth knowing about electric blankets
Summary
- Electricity flows through a wire with high resistance inside the electric blanket. This heats it up and allows you to get a good night’s sleep.
- If you follow certain safety precautions, electric blankets are safe. They are even beneficial for allergy sufferers, people with arthritis, neck or back pain.
- Electric blankets are not power-hungry and won’t run up your electricity bill, even with frequent use.
The Best Electric blanket: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying an electric blanket
How does an electric blanket work?
How much does an electric blanket cost?
| Power | Price |
|---|---|
| 60 W | ca. 15-30 € |
| 100 W | ca. 30-50 € |
| 150 W | ca. 50-150 € |
You will find electric blankets that cost only 15 to 30 euros. These have a low heat output of only 60 watts and are often of lower quality than the more expensive models.
With particularly cheap offers, you should also take a good look at the safety precautions, as there are often bad electric blankets in circulation that do not meet EU safety standards. For 30 to 50 euros you can find good electric blankets with 100 watts of power and for 50 to 70 even with 150 watts of power.
Of course, you will also find electric blankets that cost 150 euros or more, which is mainly due to the brand and a special design. But basically, you can buy high-quality electric blankets for 50 to 70 euros.
How big should my electric blanket be?
The electric blanket can also be smaller than your mattress, but we advise you not to buy a larger one. The simple reason for this is that you should not fold an electric blanket. When folded, the thin heating wires are broken off so that it can no longer generate heat.
Of course, your height also plays a role in choosing the ideal electric blanket. The taller you are, the bigger your electric blanket needs to be. If you want to generate heat in specific areas, a smaller blanket is sufficient.
Are electric blankets harmful to health?
Electric blankets help to combat bed bugs. This is especially beneficial for allergy sufferers, because bed bug colonies are reduced by up to 50% when the electric blanket is used regularly.
If you suffer from arthritis, we can also highly recommend an electric blanket. The heat generated helps bones and muscles to warm up and relax. Better blood circulation reduces pain and stiffness, leading to deeper and more restful sleep. The same goes for back and neck pain – it too is combated by the localised heat. This makes for a better sleeping experience.
Electric blankets are beneficial for people with arthritis, back or neck pain. The blanket also has benefits for allergy sufferers because the heat fights off bed bug colonies.
Are electric blankets dangerous?
- Have visible wires and other damage checked immediately.
In general, we recommend that you have your electric blanket checked regularly
- Never use an electric blanket in combination with a hot water bottle
Hot water bottles can have holes where the hot water can leak out. Normal electric blankets are waterproof, but they cannot hold large amounts of water. If you suffer from incontinence, you should buy an electric blanket with good insulation.
- Never fold your electric blanket.
The delicate wires in the electric blanket can break when folded.
- Only use electric blankets in continuous operation if the blanket has been marked by the manufacturer as suitable for continuous operation.
For safety reasons, you should switch off and unplug normal blankets before going to bed.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not take over used electric blankets.
For safety reasons, you should buy electric blankets new and not buy them second-hand from somewhere.
How much electricity does an electric blanket consume?
The maximum power rating of the electric blanket in watts, the electricity price of your provider and the duration of use of your electric blanket.
Example: Maximum power: 100 watts, electricity price: 23 cents/ kWh, duration of use: 3 hours a day with the highest power of 100 watts. Formula: 0.100 kW (100 Watt) * 365 days (1 year)*3h*23 Cent/kWh= 25,185 Euro per year.
So your heat blanket costs 25,185 euros in electricity per year. 25.185/365= 6.9 cents per day. 6.The daily electricity consumption of your electric blanket costs 9 cents per day. So you can see that the cost of your electric blanket is not excessive.
What are the alternatives to electric blankets?
| Alternative | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Heated waterbed | More comfortable | More expensive to buy, higher electricity consumption |
| Heating pad | Available in different forms, good for pain | Cable reduces flexibility |
| Hot water bottles | Without electricity, not dangerous | Danger of burns when filling and possible leakage of the bottle |
| Heat pads with cereal or cherry stones | No risk of burns, can be heated in microwave or oven, high heat storage capacity | risk of fire if left in microwave too long |
Decision: What types of electric blankets are there and which is the right one for you?
Basically, you can distinguish between two types of electric blankets:
- Electric blanket
- Electric blankets
To ensure optimal sleeping conditions in winter, the room temperature should not be too high, but the bed should be comfortably warm. However, airing the room alone will cause the entire room, including your bed, to cool down.
Electric blankets help you to solve this problem. In the following section, we will go into more detail about the types of electric blankets mentioned above. With a list of advantages and disadvantages, we will try to help you make a decision.
What are electric blankets and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
An electric blanket looks like a normal blanket that you have on your couch or in bed. The special thing about it is that you can heat it electronically. Most blankets have three to six heat settings that you can adjust individually.
To warm it up quickly, set it to the highest setting at the beginning and gradually adjust the temperature downwards. Apart from cold winter months, the electric blanket is also very pleasant for muscle problems or joint pain.
Although this is a blanket, it contains electronics that lie directly against your body. This is why you should look for nationally or internationally recognised test seals when buying. It is better to stay away from cheap products.
You should always use your electric blanket completely spread out to avoid the risk of overheating. Also, it should only be used for covering and not as a base. It is not designed to support your body weight. The blanket must have an overheating protection for your own safety.
Ask for an automatic switch-off so that you can also use your blanket to fall asleep. This means that the heat supply is automatically switched off after a certain period of time. Also, as with any other electronic device, please disconnect your electric blanket from the power supply immediately if you spill anything.
Buy a model where you can remove the control panel. This way you can clean it in the washing machine so that you can use your blanket hygienically for a long time.
What are heated underblankets and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
In contrast to a heated blanket, a heated underblanket is used to warm your bed or keep it at the right temperature. You can’t use it to tuck yourself in, as it is much too stiff for that.
However, it also helps you to relax yourself and your muscles. To ensure that your thermal underblanket works optimally, you should always buy it one size smaller. For hygiene and allergy reasons, make sure that you are allowed to wash your underblanket. If this is not allowed, it may be possible to treat mites or similar with a steam cleaner.
In addition to heat regulation, timer options and overheating protection, high-quality manufacturers offer you other features. For example, there are models that allow you to heat different areas of your body. There are also heated underblankets that have built-in allergy-preventing temperature settings.
These serve to combat the development of mites on and in your mattress. As with heated blankets, look for test seals on underblankets and never buy a cheap product.
Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate electric blankets
The following article will show you which characteristics you can use to compare and evaluate electric blankets. This will help you to decide whether a certain product is suitable for you or not. In summary, these are the following factors:
- Safety
- Machine washable
- Temperature levels
- Material
- Circumference
Safety
When buying electrical appliances, safety is, of course, paramount. All electric blankets approved for sale in Germany are equipped with safety features such as overheating protection and automatic switch-off.
For safety reasons, you should only buy electric blankets that have a quality seal such as the TÜV and are sold by a reputable seller.
Unfortunately, there are still some electric blankets that are sold illegally at a cheap price and are therefore unsafe. If the seller is not 100% serious, you should avoid such unusually cheap offers. You should also make sure that your electric blanket has a quality seal such as the TÜV.
Machine washable
If you are a very hygienic person, then the washability of the electric blanket is probably the most important thing for you. But even if machine washability isn’t your top priority, you should still wash your blanket from time to time to prevent germs and mites from taking up residence.
Therefore, you should make sure that your electric blanket is washable. With some electric blankets you can remove the cover for washing, others you can wash with the heating element. Electric blankets that can be washed completely are of higher quality, but of course also a little more expensive.
Temperature levels
Electric blankets are equipped with several temperature levels, which is of course a great thing because everyone has their own personal need for warmth. The outside temperature also determines whether we want it really cosy and warm or rather lukewarm. Normal electric blankets have between one and ten temperature levels.
Basically, the more temperature levels, the better. However, if changing the temperature is too tiring for you, you can also buy a newer generation electric blanket. These have their own heat level and automatically adjust their temperature to the ambient temperature.
Material
Before buying, you should consider what material you like and want for your electric blanket. Inside the electric blanket you will find insulated heating wires with foam. Above this is a cover that often consists of the following materials:
- Fleece
- Fleece
- Flannel
- Cotton
- Polyester
Which material is best for you depends on your preference and, of course, the area of use. If you are looking for a cuddly electric blanket for your sofa, a cosy fleece blanket is probably very suitable, while cotton or polyester are more suitable for a bed cover.
Size
Think about how big your mattress is. An ideal warming blanket for your bed should match the size of your mattress. If you only need the blanket to generate heat at certain points, you can also take a smaller one. However, the electric blanket should definitely be larger than your mattress because you should not fold it up.
The sensitive heating wires break quickly when folded. Of course, the size of the ideal electric blanket also depends on your height. The taller you are, the bigger your electric blanket needs to be to keep you warm.
Facts worth knowing about electric blankets
How do I wash an electric blanket?
To remove germs, mites and dirt, you should wash your electric blanket from time to time. There are basically two types of electric blankets. Some have a washable cover, while others can be washed completely. With both types of washing, however, you must observe certain safety precautions.
Many electric blankets have a removable cover that you can clean in the washing machine. You can then wipe the heating element with a damp cloth. When cleaning, however, you must make sure that the device is switched off. The plug should not be plugged in and the batteries should not be removed.
Otherwise, there may be a short circuit when the unit is switched on again. High-quality electric blankets can be washed completely with their heating element because their wires are waterproof. Nevertheless, you should select the gentle wash programme and not spin the electric blanket after washing. For safety, follow these washing instructions:
8 safety tips for washing electric blankets
- Before cleaning, unplug the blanket from the wall socket
- After washing, allow the blanket to air dry
- Do not wring out the blanket after washing; the heating wires may break
- You should not plug the electric blanket in directly after washing and heat it up to dry, otherwise you may short-circuit it
- You should never immerse the controls in water
- Make sure that no water gets into the housing, as this also increases the risk of a short circuit
- Be careful not to use a steam cleaner for cleaning. The steam could penetrate the heating element and cause a short circuit.
- Do not use aggressive cleaning agents.
Who invented the electric blanket?
In 1912, the American doctor Dr. Sidney I. Russel invented the electric blanket, which increasingly replaced bedpans and heating stones in the years that followed. This invention considerably improved people’s quality of life.
Picture source: Pixabay.com / Smellypumpy
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