Here’s a phrase I never thought I’d type: an electric blanket has become my most used and beloved gadget. Or, at least, I never thought I would say so until I reached retirement age.
Electric blankets haven’t been on my radar for years and even then they were a cautionary tale, coupled with grim tales of cheap wiring and house fires.
But then the cost of living crisis hit, electricity prices skyrocketed, the temperature dropped, and things started to change a bit. Members of Facebook groups have started sharing tips for staying warm on the cheap. TikTok heating hacks abounded.
And electric blankets have made a surprise comeback, suddenly flying off the shelves of John Lewis. Luckily, despite the childhood horror stories, they’re perfectly safe to use.
Let’s be clear: I don’t really like the fact that my most recommended product at the moment is a blanket. It would be considerably nicer if people could afford to heat their homes and I would urge people to splurge on something a little more fun and lively.
But that’s where we are. And if you want a product that will use as little electricity as possible while still keeping you warm and cozy at home, this is the thing to buy.
Since I received the electric blanket a month ago, it has gone from a weird novelty to a household essential. I work from home and it’s become an indispensable part of my morning routine: make coffee, get warmed up, throw on me, open a laptop. Ready for work.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
At night, if my partner and I retreat to the couch to watch a movie, the throw goes with us. If I read on the bed, I do it under the blanket. Even the cat fell in love with it and meows impatiently until I arrange it to its liking so that it can climb next to me.
It costs around £55 and more than paid for in electricity bill savings. I didn’t even turn on my heater until the last temperature drop. (When it fell below 0°C, I waved the white flag.)
If you know as little about these things as I did a few months ago, there are two types of electric blankets. The first is actually called an electric blanket, which seems odd since it’s not really a blanket at all. You don’t curl up under it. Instead, it’s a cushion that you attach to your mattress or topper with a rubber band on the corners or a strap underneath.
Then you lay down your fitted sheet as usual, in anticipation of a frost-free night’s sleep. My colleague Lewis Painter swears by his. To find out why, you can read his opinion on the Cosi Home electric blanket.
The second type of electric blanket – the one I have – is a heated blanket. You use it like any other blanket. So really, one is for daytime use and one is for nighttime use.
But here’s what makes either – or both – such an essential purchase. They cost around 2.5 to 3 pence an hour in electricity to run. (If you want to know the cost of running one of your plug-in devices and gadgets, it’s easy: check out our article, which tells you how.)
When you compare 3p to about 54p per hour to run an average 1500 watt plug-in heater, or over £1.36 per hour to run my very small 13kW boiler for central heating (unless you live in a small apartment, your boiler will probably cost double that amount), the difference is stark – and huge.
Even if I used an electric blanket ten hours a day, it would only cost me £2.10 in electricity a week. Do I sometimes feel like my grandmother’s era came early? Yes, but I’m nice and warm and I pay pennies for it, so bring the Horlicks.
This is not a solution that will work for all households. It’s a “heat the person, not the room” solution. The air in your home will always be cold and it will do nothing to combat the humidity. But if you do your best to save your electricity, I recommend that you buy yourself a heated blanket during the January sales.
The product I am referring to in this article is the Glamhaus Heated Throw. You can read my review to find out more or buy one directly from Glamhaus for £54.95. And, if you’re trying to cut your heating costs this winter, you might want to check out our related articles:
