What are your thoughts on Electric Blankets and Alternatives?

[Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 11:04

One of the colder winters on record where I live, and more frosts forecast over the next week.Mid last year I replaced our electric blankets with ones that I, IIRC, obtained from BigW. They were mid-range; not the cheapest, not the dearest, although they were on special.

Last night we had an "incident" with one of them. We generally only use them to pre-warm the bed, but for some reason they were left on. Could have been bad for my partner who'd gone to bed an hour earlier than me.

Anyway, it's a worry.

Did a bit of research, which only heightened concerns about electric blankets.

I do like them as bed warmers, so do I replace them?

I lost faith in choice.com.au years ago, but maybe their opinion that only the best will do has merit in this case(?).

Are there alternatives? Like a modern version of the oven heated bricks that were used in days of yore? Or maybe just get a hot water bottle?

What's the opinion here?

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • Cheeper on 24/08/2015 - 11:15
    +1

    We discarded our elec blanket a long time ago.
    We now use a lambs wool underblanket. Check out the benefits online and see if it suits you?

    • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 11:19

      Thanks, will do…

  • CyberMurning on 24/08/2015 - 11:25

    or silkworm quilt (its from worm). VERY VERY light and SUPER SUPER warm.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 11:31

      We have down quilts. Weren't cheap and are warm.

  • ChrisLevo on 24/08/2015 - 11:38

    K-Mart sell "Homemaker soft touch winter sheet set" which are fantastic.

    Slightly shiny on one side, and soft and warm on the other.

    We find that we feel warm as soon as we get into them.

    And, in best OzB tradition, they are only $18 for the Queen bed fitted set, including two pillow cases :-)

  • 2jzzzz on 24/08/2015 - 12:56
    +1

    We use flannelette sheets and a goose down quilt. The flannelette sheets don't feel cold when you hop into bed like a 1000tc cotton sheet would. We switch to cotton for the warmer weather though.

  • Euphemistic on 24/08/2015 - 13:02

    We've got a nice thick goose down quilt too, keeps you warm. For me, sometimes too warm. It doesn't, however preheat the bed for us. I'm fine with that as it doesn't take long to warm up, but my wife doesn't cope too well and heats up one of the wheat filled heat packs for a couple of mins in the microwave then throws it in under the covers while getting ready for bed. Works a treat. Cheap, effective and no electric cables, or potential hot water leaks in the bed.

    • mskeggs on 24/08/2015 - 13:46
      +1

      The wheat bags can ignite. Ensure you put a cup of water in the microwave when you heat it.

      • Jay43 on 24/08/2015 - 14:41

        I didn't know that. Thanks.

      • mskeggs on 24/08/2015 - 15:59
        +1

        They are banned in Nepean hospital for that reason. I know the woman who started the (very minor) fire ;-)

  • one man clan on 24/08/2015 - 13:43

    Use a hot water bottle to warm up the bed before you get in instead?

    I personally hate getting into a warm bed but that's just me.

  • mskeggs on 24/08/2015 - 13:45

    If you read the recall notices, they talk about a "severe" cord bend allowing a short circuit, or fraying of the cord being the issues.
    So treat them with respect and check for issues and I think you will be fine.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 15:52

      The cable to the blanket checked out OK. The issue (strong burning smell) was in the blanket itself. I'm in contact with the brand owner at the moment.

  • djones145 on 24/08/2015 - 15:19
    +2

    Get ur parnter to spoon you :)

  • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 16:28

    Quick update; I have a case number. The brand name owner of the blanket has mobilized. They seem sincerely and seriously concerned.

    We've identified that the internals of one side of the blanket has a small "burn" mark and its controller has a a not very nice and alarming smell, still there 16 hours later!!

    I'm concerned that the expensive rewiring and state of the art switchboard with all sorts of fancy "trip" gadgets, that we installed in our house 18 months ago, didn't respond.

    We live in interesting times.

  • moonphase on 24/08/2015 - 16:43

    Personally, I've been using electric blanket for more than 10 years and have no problem at all.

    What kind of "incident" have you encountered?

    I'm currently using the electric blanket (throwable) in between blanket and quilt and it is pretty warm and good. (I decide to just leave that way since I don't want to make my bed again (just being lazy)

    Anyway, I never had any issues but if you worried about it, I would suggest to use hot water bottles and / or wheat bags.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 18:42

      yea, our previous E.B.s were years old and worked without a worry.

      I noticed an "ozone" smell when I walked into the bedroom last night. The blanket had been on for an hour. Lifted the quilt and the smell got worse. Disconnected the blanket at once.

      There is a small burn (black) mark on the blanket and the control on that side also has that smell.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 19:53
    +1

    Couldn't live without my electric blanket. Have been using a queen size Aldi blanket for years now without a problem (it's the model made/sold prior to the Aldi ones which were recalled due to the short circuiting problem).

  • travs on 25/08/2015 - 15:59

    One negative is that you can't use them with memory foam beds.

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