Shop for an Electric Blanket: Tips You Need to Know
Ah, there's nothing like curling up in a nice warm bed on a cold winter's night. For decades, electric blankets have become the sine qua non in nighttime comfort. If you're looking into purchasing an electric blanket, this eHow article explains everything you need to know about how electric blankets function and problems they may have.
Instructions
1. How Electric Blankets Work. Electric blankets have a flexible heating element array sandwiched in between the blanket's top and bottom fabric. You can feel the heating elements with your fingers, and you can see them if you lift up the blanket and look through it. The heating elements cover most of the blanket except for some on the sides and a few inches on the top so that you don't scald your face at night.
2. Electric Blanket Controls. Electric blankets come with a temperature control that typically ranges from 1 (coolest) to 10 or H (hottest). Depending on blanket quality, the Hot setting can indeed make you sweat at night if left on in that position. Some electric blankets (such as Sunbeam King and Queen models) come standard with dual controls, perfect if your significant other prefers the temperature either hotter or cooler than you do. Also, some electric blanket controls come with a preheat feature to heat your bed up before you get in it.
3. Electric Blanket Size. Electric blankets are made to barely cover the bed with only a couple inches left on each side. Fine if you are the only sleeper in the bed; but if you're sharing the bed with your significant other, you will definitely want to purchase an electric blanket at least one size up, two sizes up if possible. This means for a Twin bed, get a Queen size electric blanket. For a Double (Full) bed, get a King size electric blanket. If you have a Queen bed, you'll have to go with the King as well.
4. Electric Blanket Fabric Quality. Most electric blankets typically don't feel as thick and plush as your average blanket. This is because of the structure of the blanket and the fact that elements have to go in there. Before you purchase your electric blanket, zip open the plastic packaging and feel how thick the material is. If it feels paper thin and you can really feel the heating elements, skip over it. But if its thicker and feels more like a regular cotton blanket, you should consider it. You can also purchase an electric blanket that has a pattern; one that has supersoft material; and one with classic velour.
5. Electric Blanket Auto Shut-Off and Energy Saving Features. Most electric blankets nowadays come with a 10-hour shutoff to save energy and so that hazards don't occur. However, some electric blankets also come with an energy-saving feature that automatically lowers the electric blanket's temperature at night while you're sleeping to save energy. Fine if you're a deep sleeper; but if you're a light sleeper and find yourself getting out of bed often at night, you're going to find yourself a bit chilly.
6. Electric Blanket Brands. If you walk into the bedding department of most big-box retail outlets and department stores, you'll find lots of Sunbeam electric blanket models. Other electric blanket models include Whole Home and Land's End (Sears); Martex, Sealy, and Biddeford (JC Penney and Kohls); and SlumberRest (Macy's).
7. Reported Electric Blanket Issues. Customer service issues reported with some electric blanket models include short life (1-2 years), defective heating elements, cheap fabric, slow heating, blanket too small for bed size, and the blanket becoming cooler during the night.
8. Where to Find Great Deals on Electric Blankets. Shop at overrun discount stores including Ross, T.J. Maxx, Marshall's, and Tuesday Morning. I do not recommend purchasing your electric blanket at Wal-Mart or K-Mart as the fabric quality tends to be very poor and electric blanket heating can be hit-or-miss. I do not recommend purchasing your electric blanket online (except in the case where you purchase it from the online version of a brick-and-mortar store such as Sears or JC Penney where you can easily return it if it doesn't work).
Tips Warnings
While you're in the store perusing electric blankets, zip open the plastic packaging and feel the fabric to ensure fabric quality. It should feel somewhat thick and sturdy. If the fabric feels paper-thin and you can really feel the elements, look for another electric blanket.
Remember to up your electric blanket size x2 if possible. That means for a Twin size bed, buy a Queen size electric blanket. For a Double (Full) bed, buy a King size electric blanket. But for Queen and King, you'll just have to go with the King size electric blanket.
Always check to see the what the auto-shutoff timing is, for example, 10 hours.
An electric blanket is not the same thing as an electric throw. An electric throw is just a small blanket to throw on yourself if you're sitting on the couch and you get a bit chilly.
If you're a light sleeper, beware of electric blanket models that feature energy-saving heat reduction at night.
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