A heated blanket or throw is a blanket with wires inside to heat it
up. You plug it into a mains electrical socket and use it as a blanket cover over your body.
You must not lie on top of it and must not put it under your mattress,
other blankets or duvet. It is only for use over the top of your body.
It is excellent at providing warmth and comfort during cold
weather.
However there are a number of considerations to bear in mind before
purchasing a heated blanket.
The Benefits of a Heated Throw Or Blanket.
Saving energy Costs. We have found that we can keep the
heating either off for longer or lower the temperature on the thermostat by
using our heated throws. Energy costs are so high that this is an effective
way to help reduce the cost of heating the home and heat ourselves instead.
Heated throws do heat up much faster and give out much more warmth than a
normal blanket. We also find that the room itself is a little warmer when we
have been using our heated blankets.
Improving mood. In the winter months when it is
invariably cold, dark and with long nights our mood can suffer. A heated
throw encourages relaxation and a feeling of cosiness and comfort which is
always lovely. On a practical level it can also lower the amount of energy
we need to keep us warm and this in turn can help reduce stress and anxiety.
If you are cold you are unlikely to feel very happy!
Pain relief. A heated blanket can help if you have minor
aches and pains as the gentle warmth can ease muscle tension. It is also
lovely if you are feeling ill with flu or other viruses and keeps you cosy
warm. However, it is always best to check with your doctor if it is safe if
you have any prior health conditions and best not to use if you are
pregnant.
Sleep. We sometimes use our heated blanket over the bed
at night to provide additional warmth. While we don't keep it on all night,
just for a little while on the timer, it can help us drift off to
sleep. If it gets very cold during the night and wakes us up, one of us can
just switch it on again on the timer for an hour to warm us up. It is also
very useful if one of us is warm enough or too hot and the other is cold.
That way the cold person can have the heated blanket on just their side.
Only use a heated throw in this way if it has an automatic shut off
feature.
General warmth. I love gardening and walking that does not
stop for me in winter, but I am often really cold by the time I come in.
Sometimes I feel really cold and need to warm up and now I can just throw my
heated blanket over me and it gently warms me up. Previously I would have needed a warm bath to get my core body temperature
right again.
In the event of heating breakdown.
While everyone hopes this will never happen, if it does it is bound to be
in the depths of winter! If you have central heating and the boiler or
other mechanism breaks down you have lost your heating. However hopefully
you will still have electricity and so can still keep warm if you have
heated blankets.
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Important Considerations Of Heated Throws
Heated throws and blankets can also have some considerations it is
important to be aware of.
A poor quality heated blanket can pose a fire hazard if it is left on for
too long, damaged, or used improperly. A poor quality one can also
overheat. So it is very important to buy a good quality heated throw and carefully
follow the safety and washing instructions. It is also vital to periodically check it for any signs of damage and do
not use it if it is damaged in any way.
I would strongly advise to buy one with a timer and an auto-off feature so
that there is peace of mind that if you forget to switch it off, it will
switch off and cool down automatically and safely.
I would advise buying a heated throw that can be washed in a washing
machine. Otherwise it is very difficult to keep it clean and hygienic. It
should have a detachable lead so you just wash the blanket, clearly never
with the lead and plug itself attached. If you buy one that is not washable
it would be best to cover it with a washable cover.
Some people with certain serious health issues may be advised against
using one, so do check with your doctor. Anyone pregnant should consult with a doctor before use as well. It is not suitable to use one with a small baby or anyone who is unable to
say if they are getting too hot, or if someone cannot regulate their
temperature very well.
So if you have any serious health issues, pregnant or older check with a
doctor and do not use with a baby or small child.
Points To Consider When Buying Heated Throws
Price point : Heated throws can vary in price from
relatively inexpensive to a very high price. This tends to depend on several
factors such as the quality and luxury of the materials used, the range and
quality of features, and its size. There is an initial outlay but we feel we have saved more money on
heating, so in the end they have paid for themselves. A less expensive blanket may serve your needs but do also bear in
mind how long it might last and what safety features it has compared to a
higher quality one.
Features: A heated blanket can have various features, such as a controller, a
timer, an auto-off function and a temperature setting. We love the auto
timer which means we just set it for an hour or 3 hours or 9 hours and do
not have to think about it. Also it is very handy if you forget its on
there is no worry about overheating as it just switches itself off safely.
We also love the temperature control which can be from very low to really
warm.
I would advise to buy one that is washable with a detachable lead and and
control.
Safety Features Whatever price point you buy at, I would
advise to make sure it includes important safety features, like a timer,
heat control and most important auto switch off.
Material: A heated blanket can also be made from different materials, and it is
really down to personal preference what you would like. I would advise
easy care and something that you like that goes with your living room,
office or bedroom colour scheme. We have one that is heavier and thicker
with a Faux fur furry feel and one that is much lighter with a soft sherpa
feel.
The Size: A heated blanket can come in a variety of sizes. We chose two
single throw sized ones so that there are not unwieldly to use on the sofa
but still big enough to place across the bed. However you may prefer
a larger one to cover a bigger area.
I think a heated throw like this
Sunbeam Royal Luxe Heated Throw is an essential for winter, especially if you are wanting to save
heating costs and still feel nice and warm and cosy.
I believe a heated throw is a lovely gift for many occasions and one
like this
Sealy Faux Fur Heated Throw would be lovely perhaps for a winter birthday, a housewarming or
wedding present and these heated throws and blankets are always suitable for
a Christmas gift.
We feel that our two heated blankets are one of our best purchases for the
colder weather. They have saved us money on heating bills, look lovely in
our living room and bedroom. They have been fantastic when I am working and
sitting still for periods of time to keep me warm or when we are watching a
film at night and do not want the heating on. We have had them for two years
now with no issues and we would not be without them.
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