January 20th, 2020 by Becky Calvert

With the freezing temperatures outside, there’s nothing better than getting into a warm and cosy bed at the end of a long day. One of the best ways to do this is by buying a cosy electric blanket that can warm your bed before you get into it! However, are electric blankets really safe and should you be worried about purchasing one? In short, modern electric blankets are perfectly safe! However, here’s a quick breakdown of what to look for to give you complete peace of mind that the blanket you’re purchasing or you’ve already got is safe, as well as providing comfort and warmth.

Built-in Safety Features

Modern electric blankets should all have built-in safety features. Older electric blankets didn’t (which is one of the reasons they have such a bad reputation now) and were once considered dangerous. Nowadays, electric blankets should all have over-heat prevention and automatic cut-off timers to make sure that the blanket can detect if it gets too hot and be able to turn itself off completely if it does. We should mention that modern electric blankets are very unlikely to actually overheat due to better designed heating elements but it’s always better to have that added peace of mind surrounding your safety or a loved one. Therefore, when choosing the perfect electric blanket for you, always make sure safety features are present. All of our Homefront electric blankets have built-in safety features, so there’s no need for you to worry about possible overheating whilst using one of our blankets!

Durable and Easy to Use Controller

Your electric blanket should always have a durable and sturdy controller. Whether you opt for a simple up and down slider button to choose the heat setting or a more high-tech button system, they should all be durably designed and built to last the test of time. Without a durable controller, you have no way of controlling the blanket to suit you best. If the controller was to break or become damaged, you should never use the blanket (as it may be dangerous to use). All of our electric blankets are designed with this in mind and are robust and easy to use – giving you an extra level of safety!

Check the Wires

Before using your electric blanket, you need to check it first for any bunched up or damaged wires. The inside of the blanket should feel smooth and the thin wires should be straight. If they’re not, do not use the blanket. Bunched up, tangled or even broken wires inside the blanket can cause the blanket to scorch, become too hot or simply stop working altogether. This is particularly important to check if your heated blanket has been in storage over the summer months, as improper storage can lead to damaged wires!

Store Your Blanket Properly

Although this sounds like an easy step, storing your blanket improperly can really damage your blanket and make it less safe to use. Firstly, you should always roll your blanket instead of folding it. This will make sure that the wires are not folded for long periods so that when it comes to getting your blanket out of storage, you can easily flatten out the blanket, ready to be used again! Secondly, never place heavy items on top of the blanket for the same reason – you don’t want to damage the thin wires inside the blanket. Storing the blanket correctly will also make sure that it lasts for much longer, providing warmth and comfort with every autumn and winter!

Make Sure it Fits

Electric blankets should always fasten securely to your bed – either by using corner straps or an elasticated skirt. This will make sure that the blanket doesn’t move or get tangled around you as you sleep – which again, could make the thin wiring move and become damaged. Corner straps attach to each corner of your mattress and an elasticated skirt fastens onto your mattress much like a fitted sheet. Both ways will make the blanket stay in place – perfect for when you’re using the blanket every night!

All of our electric blankets are perfectly safe to use. With built-in safety features, durable controllers and corner or elasticated skirts, you can choose any of our blankets with complete peace of mind that you’ll be completely safe using them. To browse our electric blanket range, click here.