Five of the best electric blankets

When the temperature drops don't be tempted to leave the central heating on if your bedroom gets cold at night, not only is it wasteful but it's also likely to mess up your sleep.

Instead a heated blanket offers a more economical way to stay toasty as you nod off at night, or just keep warm and snug while enjoying a lie-in.

And don't worry, they've come a long way from the rough, temperamental devices that your parents or grandparents used to have, and are now more controllable and much easier to care for – with many being machine washable. Here are five of the most-popular...

1. Dreamland Intelliheat Harmony Double Heated Over Blanket with Dual Control

Electric blankets for the bed can be broadly divided into two categories – the type that sits on top of your mattress, under a bedsheet and the type that fits inside a duvet cover or over a top-sheet.
This product is of the latter type, and enjoys a four-and-a-half-star rating on Amazon thanks to some clever features, including the fact that it heats up in around five minutes.

And there won't be any bickering over the remote control on the larger models (it is available in single, double or king sizes), as it comes with a separate one for each side of the bed.

The woven, wool-like texture is appreciated by many customers and it has an auto-shut-off feature which can be set for anything between one and nine hours.


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2. Monogram Allergyfree Heated Double Dual Controller Mattress Cover with Allergy Protection

This product takes the place of a normal mattress protector and is shaped like a fitted sheet, so you'll need a standard double or king size bed in order to use it – although it does have quite deep sides.

As well as having dual controls and a shut-off timer, one of its big selling points is anti-microbial treatment on the fabric, which promises to protect against house dust mites, odour-causing bacteria and mould growth.

Although it promises an eight-minute warm-up time, some reviewers on Amazon reported that it took more than twice as long to make their bed cosy – so it may not be the best option if you don't plan ahead at bedtime.


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3. Dreamland Heated Fleece Fitted Mattress Protector

Another of the mattress-protector type devices, this product has a cosy fleecy finish which buyers report is very comfortable to lay atop.

It only comes in double size and has a single controller, so if sharing a bed you'll need to agree how warm you want it – but it has positive reviews on John Lewis with many buyers appreciating the simplicity and slightly lower price.

Like the other Dreamland product above, it also heats up in five minutes and can be set to switch off after anything from one to nine hours.

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4. Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket

The best-selling electric blanket on Amazon, this Silentnight product fits beneath your bedsheet and is tied down with six strings – warming your bed up quickly

Owners report that it heats up quickly and most are satisfied with its performance, however the control is more basic than some rival products, with only three heat settings. It is available in single, double and king sizes.


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5. Dreamland Relaxwell Deluxe Faux Fur Heated Throw

You don't need to save that heated luxury just for the bed if you opt for a product like this Dreamland heated throw. Made from a cosy faux-fur material, it's perfect to keep you snug on the sofa and you can then move it onto the bed when it's time to turn in.

With five different heat settings and a three-hour cut-off timer, it's a versatile piece of equipment that has exclusively five-star reviews from John Lewis buyers.

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