Cooler weather is officially drawing in, and with nippy days and even chillier nights looming ahead, we might be tempted to crank up the central heating to keep ourselves warm.
But with energy bills reaching new heights – and the energy regulator Ofgem warning of an 80 per cent rise in the energy price cap from 1 October – it may be time to find some alternative ways of keeping warm.
What’s needed is something that can be taken off as quickly as it is put on and doesn’t cost the Earth to use. Enter the electric blanket. The concept isn’t new, they’ve been around for almost a century, but the tech is – and so are the designs.
They’re cosy, completely safe, most feature safety systems such as auto shut-off, and they come in a range of styles and fabric types to suit most preferences. Energy efficiency is also built-in, with some costing as little as 1p a night to run.
Is it worth investing in a quality electric blanket to keep away the cold? Well, we took it upon ourselves to find out if these cozy quilts really have us covered.
We found several electric blankets – including underblankets and throws, those made from fleece and velvet and those for different bed sizes – and tried them all on particularly chilly nights. As well as during sleep, we tried some while lounging on the sofa watching TV, and even while working from home at a desk.
During testing, we checked how each heated up, how the warmth was distributed, how much comfort they provided, the control options and the safety features. We also noted the quality, how easy they were to use and how well they came up after a wash.
