King Electric Blankets: The Key to Warm Bodies This Winter

Ahhh… WINTER. It is a wonderful time of the year for many people. There are crackling fires, hot apple cider, roasting marshmallows, thoughts of the holidays, the smell of apples and cinnamon, the falling snow as you look out your window…

But, nowhere in that description did we say that we enjoyed lying in bed at night being COLD! In this day and age, there is absolutely no good reason to freeze your tootsies off in bed every night. Technology gave us a wonderful gift many years ago called the electric blanket!

The great thing about electric blankets is that they are an inexpensive way to stay toasty warm while relaxing in your bed every night. Winter is wonderful when you can wake up to a snowy day all curled up in your warm, heating blanket.

Did you know that there were electric blankets as far back as the early 1900′s? However, these blankets were very bulky and dangerous. People did not take them very seriously back then.

In the 1920′s, nurses began using electric blankets for tuberculosis patients who would get too cold at night. Eventually, they became popular and made their way into the general public.

They became very popular in the 1970′s and 1980′s for elderly people. As we all known, the elderly have a tendency to get cold easily, so electric blankets are a great way for them to stay warm.

Another group that loved electric blankets was people in lower income levels. Think about it- it can get quite expensive to buy thick blankets to use on your bed. Buying an electric blanket was an easy, cheap alternative to investing in a lot of heavier blankets.

Many people have worried over the years that electric blankets may not be safe. While research is always ongoing, the newer models are much safer as it related to fire hazards. Back in the 1970′s, there were many unsafe models on the market that posed a serious threat of catching fire.  Thankfully, they have been redesigned over the years to prevent this issue.

Be careful not to purchase older electric blankets at garage sales and thrift stores since you will not know if this is one of the dangerous blankets from years ago.

Proper Use of an Electric Blanket

Electric blankets are heated with the use of electricity, as per the name. Often, these blankets are made of either fleece or cotton. Inside of the blanket are heated wires which attach to a cord that plugs into the wall to generate the heat. Many blankets have a user control that allows you to adjust the heating levels of your electric blanket.

Because you will be all cozy and warm inside of your blanket, you will be able to turn down your heat and reduce your monthly energy costs. Saving money on your energy bill is a great thing to do, right?

However, there are some safety precautions to take when you are using an electric blanket:

1. Use the size that fits your bed. If it hangs over and gets pressed against a table or wall, there is a chance of damaging the cords inside.

2. Understand the washing care of your item and follow it to the letter. Never get your blanket dry cleaned, however, because the chemicals can damage the protective coating on the wires and cause a fire hazard.

3. Do not overload the blanket with other pillows or stuffed animals which can trap heat and cause a fire hazard.

4. Do not turn your blanket up too high or use a heating pad with it. You can get serious burns.

5. Make sure to always turn off your electric blanket when you get out of bed to prevent a fire from happening.

6. Let the adults use electric blankets. Kids are not quite prepared for the responsibility yet.

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