Now I know how toast feels! (Electric Blankets)

Member Name: sophiefour

Product:	Electric Blankets
Date:	19/07/05 (3187 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ultra-fast heat up, extra foot warmth, lovely fleecy feel, unplugs to wash

Disadvantages: Plugs in too close to my head

I’ve always tended to sleep very cold, so last year I finally decided to treat myself to an electric blanket. I wish I’d bought one earlier - it’s fantastic.

After researching the relative merits of several different blankets, I settled for the Dreamland "Ready For Bed" underblanket (double) - £49.99 from Argos last year. The key difference between this and others was that it has an ultra-fast 10 minute warm up. I’ve slept in beds with electric blankets before when staying with friends and have never remembered to go and turn it on before going to bed. Their blankets have always taken about 30 minutes to warm up so I lie there shivering until it reaches a cosy temperature. Not so with my blanket! I only turn it on when I go up to bed and, by the time I’ve brushed my teeth and got myself ready, it is as warm as toast! Fantastic!

Another feature which makes this blanket stand out from others is that it has an extra warm foot section. I really like this!

Otherwise the blanket has pretty much what you’d expect of any electric blanket: dual controls, 9 heat settings (from barely noticeable to really toasty), and a choice of all night warmth or just 70 minutes of heat before automatically switching off.

So, can I find anything wrong with it? Unfortunately, yes, but only minor points. Firstly, the controls unplug from the blanket so you can put it in the washing machine. A good idea, but they plug in a little too close to where my head is for my liking. It’s hardly a major problem, but I would have preferred the plug (which is quite large) to be more out of the way.

Another minor niggle is with the string used to attach the blanket to the mattress. I know it works perfectly well, but I wish manufacturers would come up with something else. Whenever I take the blanket off for cleaning or summer storage I seem to spend about 10 minutes unpicking all the knots. I always promise myself to tie them better next time, but I never do. Why can’t they put Velcro tabs on it or something for all the idiots like me?!

Finally, why are all electric blankets only the size of the warm bit? This might sound a bit strange at first, but it really annoys me when I move the pillow or stretch my feet out beyond the end of the blanket. Whereas the blanket itself is made from a lovely fleecy material (which covers the elements so well that you can barely feel them), it has to be put directly onto the mattress so, where it ends, there’s a definite ridge and then I’m straight onto the mattress. I’m quite happy for the elements to only cover the area from the bottom of the pillow down (I know there’s no point in heating under my pillow!), but please give me fleecy blanket all the way!

It comes with a 3 year guarantee and all the usual safety checks.

Summary: The only disadvantages I can find are common to ALL underblankets!