Best electric blankets to keep you cosy and warm in cold seasons

We can all agree that there’s nothing worse than feeling cold in your own home, which is why the think the best electric blankets will be your best friends this season. You can snuggle up underneath them on the sofa and put them on your bed with all the bed linen and pillows to make your night’s sleep as toasty as possible.

With the rising cost of living, many of us are turning to alternative ways to stay warm during winter to reduce on the amount we’re spending on energy, such as wearing hooded blankets around the house and popping a fleece bedding set on for extra warmth at night. However, getting cosy underneath the best electric blankets can work out cheaper than sticking the heating on for the same period of time, helping you to cut back on heating bills.

Best electric blankets at a glance:

• Best electric blanket overall: Slumberdown Wonderfully Warm Electric Blanket – view on Amazon UK
• Best electric blanket for bedtime: Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket – view on Amazon UK
• Best fleece electric blanket: Dunelm Electric Fleece Blanket – view on Dunelm
• Best electric blanket for couples: Silentnight Dual Control Electric Blanket – view on Amazon UK

As well as being an energy-efficient way of keeping warm, the best electric blankets also offer customisable heat levels so you can tailor the temperature to your preference. This level of customisation means you can crank up the heat when you’re feeling the chill compared to other people in your home, so you’re only heating up the area where you need extra warmth. These great blankets can also offer pain relief as the gentle warmth can help to relieve muscle tension and soothe any aches and pains you may have.

Whether you need a helping hand to stay warm at night, want to avoid switching the heating on, need some gentle pain relief or simply want to get cosy as you relax in the evenings, we’ve rounded up all the best electric blankets that will keep you warm and cosy throughout the cold spells.

Best electric blankets

FAQs

Ways to save money with an electric blanket

It might be clear to see how cheap it is to run an electric blanket, but there are some important things to keep in mind if you do decide to get one.

• Consider your heat settings - the higher the temperature setting, the more energy you consume. If your blanket comes with the option to have different heat settings, be sure to use just enough heat to stay warm without overdoing it and decrease when needed. It's also a good idea to start it on the lowest heat setting when you first use it. It could surprise you how little heat you need.

• Use your timer - some blankets come with a timer. This allows you to run it for an hour when you go to bed for the time you fall asleep so you're not running it all night.

• Spot heat - if your blanket is a double blanket or can be heated in certain parts only, it's a good idea to use this feature. This way, you're only using energy to heat up the part of the blanket you need rather than wasting energy on the whole thing.

How do you take care of an electric blanket?

Hayley Thistleton, sleep expert at SleepSeeker has shared her top tips for keeping your electric blanket in perfect condition.

Wash semi-regularly

You should wash your electric blanket approximately every few weeks - once a month or whenever the blanket gets dirty. Firstly, you should check the tag to see the manufacturer's cleaning advice and follow this. If the washing machine safe symbol is listed, you should ensure the blanket is unplugged and wash on a gentle cycle in cool to warm water using a mild detergent. Let the machine run for a few minutes before turning it off and leaving the electric blanket to soak in the soapy water for about 15 minutes, and then skip to the rise and spin cycle.

Dry gently

Just like weighted blankets, most electric blankets can be machine dried, but again check the tag for advice. Set the dryer to a low heat setting for around 10-15 minutes before taking out and evenly hanging on a drying rack to finish drying. If your dryer does not have a low heat setting, skip this step and simply air dry the blanket from the start as high temperatures can damage the electric wiring inside the blanket. Additionally, you should never dry clean an electric blanket as the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process can damage the blankets wiring and heating system.

How to store

During the summer months, electric blankets are usually stored away till the weather gets cold again. Before storing, wash and dry the blanket, ensuring it is completely dry before storing. You should then roll, not fold, the blanket, making sure there are no harsh folds as this can damage the inner wires. Pack away in a cool, dry place with the controls and cords unplugged.

How to remove stains

To spot clean an electric blanket, unplug before blotting with a damp cloth and using a butter knife or anything with a thin blunt edge to carefully scrape and remove any food or drink from the fabric. For a more stubborn stain, rub a mild laundry detergent on the area to lift it, before removing with a damp cloth. Air dry before use.

Safety

Electric blankets are designed to create a warm and cosy environment when getting into bed, however, they are not recommended for overnight use and should be turned off when getting into bed or set on a timer to turn off within a short while. Make sure to also use your electric blanket as the top layer, above any other blankets or duvets and do not lie or sit on it.

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.