Whether you’re looking for ways to save on your heating bill, or you just love the thought of jumping into a warm and toasty bed every evening, an electric blanket could be the answer.Ìý

But, if this is your first foray into the cosy world of electric blankets, figuring out how much you need to spend to get the best blanket can quickly send you diving under the doona in frustration. The array of products and price tags varies wildly, and while you can pick up an electric blanket for as little as $60, other models stretch to over the $400 mark.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog staff and testers love to find a more affordable product that performs well, so we were keen to find out how the $79 Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper rated against the Breville Bodyzone Antibacterial Fitted Heated Blanket, which is a pricey piece of bedding at $279.

We put both blankets to test in our labs, looking at factors such as how fast they warm the bed, how safe and durable they are, and how easy they are to use and clean.

Our full reviews, including for all the products we tested from additional brands such as Sunbeam, Dreamaker and Dimplex, are available to ÌÇÐÄVlog members, but we’ve summarised some of our findings on the Kmart and Breville blankets below to help kick off your research.Ìý

How did the blankets perform in our lab testing?

Breville sell a few different types of electric blanket in their ‘Sleep Sound’ and ‘Breville BodyZone’ ranges. We have reviewed three of their latest products in the queen-sized versions – the Breville BodyZone Antibacterial Fitted Heated Blanket ($279) , the Breville Sleep Sound Fitted Electric Blanket ($200) and the Breville Sleep Sound Quilted Fitted Electric Blanket ($269) and they were all amongst our top performers. With prices around the $200-$300 mark however, they are also some of the most expensive in our tests.Ìý

If you can’t quite stretch to hundreds of dollars to keep your toes toasty in bed, you may be considering Kmart’s electric blankets which are the cheapest we looked at. We’ve reviewed two of Kmart Anko products: the Kmart Anko Fitted Electric Blanket ($55) and the Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper ($79).

They don’t score as highly in our performance test as the Breville products, due to factors such as they take longer to warm to 40C than the more expensive models, and have fewer heat settings and no timer, however if you’re just after a cosy bed, they give good performance for a significantly lower price tag.Ìý

At-home trial of a Breville Bodyzone electric blanket 

As well as putting a range of electric blankets to test in our labs, ÌÇÐÄVlog expert, Adrian Lini, trialled an earlier model of the Breville Bodyzone blanket (than the one we have in our current review) at home on his own bed, and said that the range of variable heat settings and a timer are useful features.

“Not surprisingly, it’s incredibly comfortable jumping into a nice warm bed before going to sleep. And the higher settings can also feel quite nice for a short time on your back or stomach if you’ve got sore muscles or joints,” he said.

“Compared to an electric heater in the bedroom while you sleep, the electric blanket is faster and more direct. It’s also cheaper to run since it’s often only on for a short time and, unlike an electric heater, it doesn’t dry out the air in the room.

“The more expensive blankets usually also have a timer, which lets you decide when the blanket will turn off, and the Breville Bodyzone options range from 1–9 hours. This makes it easy to turn it on and drift off to sleep knowing that the blanket will turn off automatically soon after.”

Adrian did note some downsides to the exxy blanket, questioning whether the BodyZone feature that means you can adjust the temperature for your upper and lower body is really worth paying more money for.

“I didn’t use any of the BodyZone features – I just set both the feet and the body to the same temperature. My girlfriend does enjoy the BodyZone changes though and will sometimes set the feet section to be warmer. Unless these features are really important to you, though, I wouldn’t spend extra money to get them.” 

“The cables are also quite big and can make the area around the bed look messy and make it more awkward when vacuuming. But this would apply to many electric blankets and not just this one.”

Read more: Find out how the Breville BodyZone Antibacterial Fitted Heated Blanket performed in rigorous testing in the ÌÇÐÄVlog small appliance labs.

The $79 Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper

Another ÌÇÐÄVlog staff member tested the Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper on their own bed at home and said: “With our heating bills steadily creeping higher, it’s becoming an expensive exercise to leave our heaters on overnight, so I was very keen to give an electric blanket a go as a cheaper way to stay warm. (Our ÌÇÐÄVlog testers noted that this Kmart blanket will cost just $12 to operate over the whole of winter, every night, on its lowest setting).Ìý

“I don’t love the idea of dropping a few hundred dollars on another blanket, as my linen sheets are expensive enough as it is. So I was keen to find out if the cheaper Kmart blanket did the job. It’s obviously a basic blanket – it has two controls for each side of the bed and three heat settings, but no timer or variable body zones like the fancier Breville blanket. One of the key selling points for me is the removable cover, though, which will make it easier to clean.Ìý

“A downside is that it doesn’t have a timer, so there have been a couple of occasions when I’ve gone to sleep with the heat turned up high and forgotten to turn it off, resulting in a rude, sweaty awakening a short time later.

“You can feel some of the wires through the blanket but we have thick flannelette sheets on the bed at the moment, so it’s still pretty cushy. The tangle of cords that have now appeared beside our bed aren’t exactly aesthetically pleasing but it’s a price I’m willing to pay.Ìý

“I’m not a fan of buying cheap products that won’t last, and of course I have no idea how long the lifetime of this blanket will be – and the controls and buttons do feel quite light and flimsy compared to the controls of other blankets we looked at. Plus, there’re no raised buttons or satisfying ‘click’ to help you if you’re changing settings blind in the middle of the night – something I’ve noticed you get on pricier blankets.Ìý

“But, the removable cover is a big plus and it certainly does the job, so for under $100, I’d say it’s a good buy that’ll keep you cosy and help you save on heating bills.

Read more: Find out how the $75 Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper performed in rigorous testing in the ÌÇÐÄVlog small appliance labs.

Cheap vs expensive: Are budget electric blankets just as good?

As we always say at ÌÇÐÄVlog, price isn’t necessarily an indicator of performance, and when considering which is the best electric blanket for you, it’s a good idea to look beyond the price tag and consider the features that are really important to you (as well as how well the product performed in ÌÇÐÄVlog testing).Ìý

In this instance, the Kmart and Breville blankets both do the job they promise. Our lab testing showed that the Kmart takes a little more time to get there, taking 8 minutes to heat up to 40 degrees as opposed to the Breville which gets there in 4 minutes.

But as long as you remember to switch it on before you go to bed, 8 minutes isn’t exactly a long time to wait (that’s enough time to brush your teeth, check that the doors are locked and change into your PJs – does a couple of hundred bucks justify a 4-minute saving?). The other features that contribute to the Breville blanket’s high price tag are things such as the timer, a greater range of heat settings, and customisable heat zones.

Many of these features will be found only on the more expensive blankets, while handy features such as a removable topper for ease of cleaning may just as likely be found on cheaper blankets like the Anko option.Ìý

Top tips for finding the electric blanket of your dreams

If you just want the cheapest electric blanket that does the job, here are the features to look for, according to our expert tester Adrian.

A removable topper: A removable topper that can be easily cleaned and protects the wired blanket is extremely useful. The topper also makes the wires and cables less noticeable when lying on the bed.Ìý

High wattage: This allows the blanket to heat up quicker and reach a higher top temperature. However, more wattage equals more energy use.

A timer: This feature lets you decide when the blanket will turn off, usually with options ranging from 1–9 hours. This makes it easy to turn it on and drift off to sleep knowing that the blanket will turn off automatically soon after.Ìý

Out-of-way cable placement: You don’t want to feel like you’re lying on an extension cable as you sleep, so a blanket where the cable connection is closest to the top edge and hides under the pillow, or even its own topper, is preferred. This makes it feel as though you’re just sleeping on a standard sheet.

The post Kmart vs Breville electric blankets – how do they compare? appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• They really work
• They're a relatively cheap way to stay warm
• They're safe to use (if you follow instructions)
• Some are easy to wash
• You can tweak the settings
• There's an electric blanket for all budgets

Not only are electric blankets a saving grace for those of us with perpetually chilly feet, they’re also cost-efficient to run and, when operated following instructions, safe to use.

When testing, our experts look at factors such as how fast different electric blankets will warm your bed, how comfortable they are to sleep on and how easy they are to clean, as well as any safety issues.Ìý

And they have all the answers to any burning questions you have about whether an electric blanket is right for you, with some solid reasons for buying one.

They really work

Electric blankets are not complicated products.Ìý

They’re just, well, blankets, but with integrated wires inside that heat up the fabric to transfer heat to your body while lying in bed.

Some have more complicated wiring configurations with fancy features.Ìý

For example, you can get multi-zone heating technology if you want your feet to be warmer than your mid-section. Or ‘smart connectivity’, in case you want to be able to turn your blanket on using your smartphone from the living room.Ìý

But, essentially, electric blankets all do the same thing, and they do it well.

Almost all the electric blankets we tested in our electric blanket review were able to reach a temperature of 40 degrees within 15 minutes, with most achieving that temperature within 10 minutes or less, and some in as little as two minutes! 

So if it’s a toasty bed you’re after, they’ve got you covered.

They’re a relatively cheap way to stay warm

With many of us struggling to stay on top of household bills, an electric blanket could be a good option to help you stay warm when compared to how costly and inefficient electric heaters can be (particularly if you’re running them all night).

Our calculations show that even if you run your electric blanket on low for eight hours each day, it’ll only cost you up to $50 for the whole winter.

But running an electric heater for that time will add a couple of hundred dollars or more to your power bill.

You can check the running costs of all the products we tested in our electric blanket reviews.Ìý

They’re safe to use (if you follow instructions)

Our tests have shown modern electric blankets are safe, but where electricity is involved there’s always a small risk, and accidents can happen.Ìý

To make sure the model you’re looking at buying is safe, visit  and go to ‘Search Electrical Equipment’.Ìý

Electric blankets should have a regulatory compliance mark to show that they meet Australian standards. If you can’t find one on the model you’re interested in, give it a miss.

Running time

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use – for example, some manufacturers say that their electric blankets should not be left on overnight while others deem it safe.Ìý

We always exercise caution with products here at ÌÇÐÄVlog, so we advise that it’s better to not use them overnight (or always just use it on a short timer), and that they definitely shouldn’t be used by young children.Ìý

Electrical safety

If you see any issues with the condition of the electrical cord or controls, stop using it straight away.

Pacemakers

Electric blankets are safe to use for people with pacemakers, according to the UK National Health Service, but this could vary from person to person (and could depend on which brand of pacemaker you are using), so it’s best to check with your health professional.

Some are easy to wash

While it may seem unwise to throw an electrical appliance into the washing machine, some electric blankets are actually washable once you’ve removed the controllers.Ìý

Some blankets we tested have a removable cover that makes it easy to clean, and also likely to extend the life of your blanket as it potentially won’t get as grubby.Ìý

Most electric blankets need to be line-dried, but some are suitable for tumble drying – just double-check the instructions before you put them in the dryer.

When we calculate the ‘ease of use’ score in our electric blanket reviews, we take into account how easy they are to clean.

You can tweak the settings

All the blankets we tested have dual settings, so if your partner has a tendency to overheat, you can each adjust the temperature on your side of the bed to suit your preference.Ìý

Most blankets have a range of heat settings, although some have more than others. Very basic models usually have three or four levels, while the more expensive blankets can have up to 10, making them more customisable to the heat you prefer.

Some blankets have timers. This means you can program the blanket to turn off after a few hours when you’ve drifted off into a cosy snooze.

There’s an electric blanket for all budgets

Whether you’re a new electric blanket adopter (welcome to the fan club), you’re replacing an older blanket, or you’re buying more for other people in the family, there are options for every budget.Ìý

In our latest test, prices range from $55 for a queen-sized fitted electric blanket from Kmart, up to $469 for the Sunbeam Sleep Perfect Wool Fleece Electric Blanket.Ìý

Factors that will influence the price are things such as brand, material and how many bells and whistles the blanket has. If you’ve always dreamt of a blanket with an extra-warm foot zone, a number of models have this feature and some even allow you to choose a different setting for that section.

ÌÇÐÄVlog expert Adrian Lini says, “We tested several cheaper products that performed just as well as or outperformed more expensive blankets, so you can get a decent electric blanket without having to spend a fortune.”

“As well as price though, my advice would be to look at a blanket that has a removable cover to make washing easy, and a timer, which is a really handy feature.”

The post 6 things we love about electric blankets  appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• Test criteria explained

Our expert testers

Along with electric heaters, electric blankets have been a part of our winter testing regime for decades. ÌÇÐÄVlog participates in Australian Standards committees and regulatory forums so we can keep an eye on trends in the industry and government regulations.

How we choose what we test

We always try to review the most up-to-date electric blankets and heated throw blankets on the market, but because many new models won’t appear on store shelves until late April or May – when our testing period needs to be well underway – this isn’t always possible. We do, however, ask manufacturers to tell us whether the blankets we are testing will still be on sale throughout winter.

Another challenge is the huge variation in electric blanket sizes (single, king single, double, queen, king, and so on). It’s far too costly and time-consuming to test every size or variation, so we test our blankets on the most common bed type (a queen bed). However, we’re confident that results can be applied to all sized blankets within a particular range.

Once our market research is completed we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a normal consumer would. We do this so we can be sure they are the same product that you would find in the shops and not ‘tweaked’ in any way.

How we test

Our electric blankets and heated throw blankets go through many comprehensive checks to make sure they’ll keep you safe and warm.

Safety tests

Tens of thousands of electric blankets and throws have been recalled from a range of retailers, including major ones. This is largely due to wear and tear between the cord and the controller. Check the  for more information about affected batches.

With these worrying statistics in mind, we introduced two safety tests which simulate the cord being pulled and flexed.

These are:

Stress test

Using our custom-made test rig, we simulate 5000 cycles of the cord flexing under a weight of 10 Newtons (around 1kg). Controllers and cord are first checked visually for any damage, then put through a leakage current test to check that no internal damage has occurred.

Anchorage test

On our test, we pull the cord 25 times with a force of 100 Newtons (around ten kilos) and also apply a very small rotational force for one minute (0.1 N·m torque, for the technical folks out there, based on the relevant clause in the household safety standard). We then perform another leakage current test.

Temperature and energy tests

These tests include:

• Taking thermal images of all electric blankets (while on a bed) to see how well they disperse heat
• Measuring energy consumption
• Measuring the time taken to pre-heat the blanket to a comfortable temperature (40°C).
• Measuring the maximum temperature.

Ease of use assessment

Our members tell us that comfort while lying on an electric blanket is important, and we take this into account in our expert ratings. We conduct the following tests for electric blankets:

• Comfort: the connector to the controller can sometimes be uncomfortable to lie on, especially if the blanket is thin.
• Ease of using controls, including length of cord and ease of access while in the bed.
• Instructions. How easy the blankets are to clean.
• Ease of fitting on the bed.

For heated throw blankets we conduct the following ease of use tests:

• Controls: we assess the ease of using the controls, if they are easy to understand, illuminate and have raised markings.
• Cleaning: we check to see if the throw can be machine washed and dried in the dryer or if it needs to be washed by hand and line dried.
• Controller reach: we measure the cord length so you can determine if the cord will reach while you’re sitting on the lounge.
• Ease of washing: we check if the controller is easily removable for washing.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating is made up of:

• Performance (pre-heating time) (40%)
• Durability (20%)
• Ease of use (40%)

We recommend electric blankets with a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of at least 85%.Ìý

Heated throw blankets must receive a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of at least 85% and at least 80% for ease of use to be recommended.

The post How we test electric blankets and heated throw blankets appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• What is a heated throw blanket?
• A cost effective way to stay warm
• Do heated throw blankets really work?
• What are some useful features to look for?
• Are electric heated throws and blankets safe?
• Heated throw vs hot water bottle
• Heated throw blankets: Our verdict

What is a heated throw blanket?

As the name suggests, a heated throw blanket is a type of heated blanket. It has built-in heating elements, and once it’s plugged into an electrical socket, the elements heat up the blanket to keep you nice and warm.

Unlike electric blankets, which are designed to warm your bed, an electric throw is portable (although its range depends on the power cord length) and can be used throughout the day. So whether you’re working from home or lounging around on the couch, you can keep warm without necessarily having to heat the whole room.

A cost effective way to stay warm

Who needs an electric heater running non-stop when you can cosy up under a heated throw blanket? The electric heaters we’ve tested range in price from $69 to $749. In comparison, the blankets in our latest review range in price from $35 (for the Anko heated throw available from Kmart and Target) to $199 for the Sunbeam Feel Perfect Heated Throw Blanket and can be a cost-effective way to keep warm during winter for many reasons.

A heated throw is portable and can be used where you are, whether it be on the couch or at the table (providing you have a power source nearby), and can save you from heating the whole house. They use significantly less energy than other heating appliances and can reduce your overall energy consumption during winter. With rising electricity costs, a cost effective heating solution is a welcome addition to many households.

The blankets we tested will cost you only $12 to $18 in running costs if you use them quite frequently during the chilly season. A heated throw can keep you warm while you’re awake and then you can slip into bed and stay warm with an electric blanket at night for a 24-hour, cost-effective heating solution. While we measure running costs for electric blankets differently, the models we tested can cost you up to $50 for the whole winter if you were to use one on low for eight hours each night.

By comparison, when we tested electric heaters and measured their running costs, we calculated that they can cost you anywhere from $195 to $491 in electricity costs to run throughout winter.

“If you want to save on your power bills, a heated throw can be a worthwhile investment,” says our lab expert Matthew Tung.

Do heated throw blankets really work?

Much like an electric blanket for your bed, a heated throw isn’t complicated to use. Simply connect it to your wall power socket, get comfortable and wait to feel nice and warm.

The blankets we tested are quick to heat up and most were able to reach 40 degrees in under five minutes. The slowest took 12 minutes to reach 40 degrees.

What are some useful features to look for?

All the blankets we tested come with an auto-off feature and light up controls, as well as removable controls for cleaning. They also have a number of heat settings, so you can adjust the temperature to suit your needs. Even the cheapest model we tested has nine settings to choose from.

A timer is another handy feature to look for, allowing you to automatically set the blanket to turn off after a certain amount of time. Most of the blankets we tested had various timer settings.

Consider where you’ll likely be sitting when you’re using the blanket and whether you have a power outlet nearby. Our experts measure the length of the power cord to help you determine if it will be long enough for your needs.

Are electric heated throws and blankets safe?

Our testing showed that heated throw blankets are safe and the models we reviewed passed our durability tests too. However, there’s always a risk when electricity is involved, and accidents can happen.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, don’t plug the heated throw into a power board or extension cord, and don’t let young children use them. If you find any issues with the electrical cord, controls, or wiring in the blanket, stop using it immediately.

Are they easy to clean?

Our ease of use score takes into consideration how easy the blankets are to clean. First we check if the controller is removable and how easy it is to remove. Then we check if the blanket can be hand washed or if it can be put in the washing machine and whether it can be put in the dryer or needs to be line dried.

Only a couple of the heated throws we tested can be cleaned in the washing machine and most need to be line dried, so check the instructions before cleaning them.

Heated throw vs hot water bottle

Hot water bottles are a cheap way to warm up in winter. You can pick one up with a plush cover from places like Kmart for as little as $10. But do they work? And how do they compare to a heated throw blanket?

Cost: A hot water bottle is cheap to buy, and other than the tiny cost of the hot water used to fill it, doesn’t cost anything to run.

Heating: Hot water bottles heat up immediately after you add the hot water, whereas you’ll have to wait a few minutes for a heated throw. However, heated throws have setting controls to adjust the heat and offer continuous heating, whereas a hot water bottle will gradually lose heat.

Matthew tested a hot water bottle alongside the heated throws. After adding water at roughly 50°C, the surface temperature of the hot water bottle was about 30°C. After two hours the surface temperature was 27°C.

Portability: A heated throw blanket requires a power source whereas a hot water bottle doesn’t and is extremely portable.

Ease of use: Heated throw blankets can be time consuming to clean but are relatively easy to use – simply plug in and select the heat setting. On the other hand, hot water bottles can be tricky to fill and care needs to be taken to avoid spills and burns. If you’re using a cover, it’ll need to be on the bottle when it’s being filled, which means it may get wet in the process which can be annoying. Instructions warn users not to use boiling water when filling a hot water bottle.

Heated throw blankets: Our verdict

If you’re looking for a safe and cost-effective way to stay warm during winter, then a heated throw blanket might be just the ticket.

If you spend long periods of time sitting, whether it be watching TV, reading a book or working from home, a heated blanket can be a cosy companion when days are cold.

“Provided you have a power source nearby, heated electric blankets are quick to heat up and have simple but useful features to keep you warm,” says Matthew.

The post Heated throw blankets: What are they and should you buy one? appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.