With the cost of electricity soaring, using an electric blanket might be a cost-effective way to keep warm. However, use your electric blanket with caution and remember that high temperatures from the blanket could damage your Sealy mattress.
Is it cost-effective to use an electric blanket?
Dealing with load shedding and facing high electricity rates has made many of us more mindful of how and when we use electricity. Most electric blankets say how much energy they use at full power with their wattage. This means you can figure out exactly how much it costs to run your electric blanket.
Using an electric blanket to heat your bed will very likely be much more affordable than heating your whole house or room. Electric blankets don’t get that hot, and if you use a lower heat setting you will use even less electricity.
You can lower the cost of using an electric blanket by purchasing a blanket with multiple heat setting and using the blanket at a moderate to low setting.
It’s such a successful alternative to trying to heat up a whole room that an energy supplier in the UK recently started giving blankets to some of their most needy customers. With electricity prices increasing in the UK, Octopus Energy decided to help some of their customers by handing out up to 5000 blankets so they could afford to keep warm.
Safety tips for electric blankets
Newer electric blankets come with minimal risk of fires or burns because they include safety features, like an automatic shut-off. However, any time electricity is present, there’s a chance of fire. If your blanket is 10 years or older, they might not have internal temperature controls that will turn them off if they get too hot.
- If you don’t know how old your electric blanket is, rather stop using it
- If you must use one, remember to keep it at a low to moderate heat
- The elderly, children, pregnant women and people with diabetes or circulation issues should not use electric blankets
- Only use one electric blanket at a time
- Use the blanket to warm up your bed (at a low to moderate heat, to protect your Sealy mattress), and turn it off before going to sleep
- Store your blanket according to manufacturer’s instructions
- Before using your blanket after a period of storage, hold it up to the light and inspect it for tears, discoloration, burn marks, or crimps in the cords. If you see any of these, don’t use it
- Don’t buy second hand electric blankets
- Avoid using a hot water bottle and an electric blanket at the same time
- Don’t use electric blankets with waterbeds or automatic beds
Alternative tips for sleeping cozy
Our most important tip is to use your blanket at a low heat. Remember that high temperatures from your electric blanket could cause compression and sagging in your Sealy mattress and could affect the fibres and comfort fillings.
- Warm up your bed with a hot water bottle.
- Create layers of top sheets and blankets, and invest in winter bed sheets. The layers between the blankets will create warmth and insulation.
- Invest in wool and cotton fleece blankets.
- Dress in layers with warm pyjamas. Don’t forget the socks!
