Biddefordã¢â€žâ¢ Blankets Solid Micro Plush Heated Throw Blanket in Heather Grey Review

The inquiry

• Why yous should trust u.s.
• How to choose betwixt a heated pad and an electric coating
• How we picked and tested
• Our option: Sunbeam Zoned Heated Mattress Pad
• Flaws but not dealbreakers
• Runner-up: Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad
• Our choice: Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Coating
• Flaws but not dealbreakers
• How to safely utilize heated bedding
• Care and maintenance
• What to look forward to
• Other skillful heated mattress pads and blankets
• The contest
• Sources

Why you should trust us

To larn how heated bedding works, Wirecutter supervising editor Courtney Schley spoke with a number of experts, including Dick Zimmerer, a retired engineer and product manager who has worked for several heated-bedding manufacturers. (Disclosure: Zimmerer originated a patent for a component used in Perfect Fit's Soft Heat heated bedding, which we tested for this guide.) Courtney also spoke with representatives from Biddeford, ElectroWarmth, Perfect Fit, and Sunbeam to acquire about the differences among the electric blankets and heated mattress pads currently available.

For data about heated-bedding safe and blueprint, Courtney interviewed John Drengenberg, consumer safe director at UL (the independent safety and certification visitor that develops standards for and safety-tests numerous electric appliances, including electric blankets and heated mattress pads). For more data on electric-bedding rubber, Courtney emailed with representatives from the US Consumer Product Safe Commission and analyzed dozens of condom reports the agency had received well-nigh heated bedding over the previous five years. She likewise spoke with Judy Comoletti, and then the sectionalization manager for public education at the National Fire Protection Clan, well-nigh guidelines for using heated bedding safely, and she read several of the NFPA's reports on the causes of house fires.

Wirecutter's Alex Arpaia also wrote and researched guides to air mattresses, mattress toppers, and comforters. And Wirecutter staff author Katie Okamoto worked on the 2022 update to this guide. Katie has too written about bed frames and researched health and sustainability for other guides in the Home section.

How to choose between a heated pad and an electrical blanket

Not everyone sleeps well with extra heat. In fact, sleep experts suggest that a colder ambient temperature (around sixty degrees Fahrenheit) is an ideal temperature for getting a good dark's rest. But at that place are many reasons why y'all may seek extra warmth at night. If so, our inquiry and testing found that in most cases y'all're better off using a heated mattress pad, rather than an electric blanket. Pads are amend at masking the heating wires, and your body and the remainder of your bedding insulate the warmth. Mattress pads are also easier to use safely because they prevarication flat and don't agglomeration or fold (as electric blankets can), which could cause overheating. If yous want boosted heat at night but prefer estrus on specific areas of the body, a zoned mattress pad, like our current pick, can provide targeted warmth to your lower, centre, and upper torso, and can give your sleep partner temperature control, too. But blankets are better if yous already have a specific mattress topper that you love or yous don't want to add extra padding to your mattress. If you employ heated bedding only occasionally, information technology's also easier to bandy in an electric blanket than information technology is to alter the mattress pad.

Many people use heated bedding during the wintertime months to relieve on heating costs (past heating the bed instead of heating the room or the unabridged home). Every bit reported in The Washington Postal service (subscription required), the Usa Department of Free energy says you tin can save up to one% of your bill for every degree you lot plough your thermostat downwards for at least viii hours. Insufficiently, our mattress pad and electric blanket picks consume very little energy: In 2017, we measured their electricity use with a Kill A Watt meter, and nosotros discovered that our picks consumed merely 3¢ to 5¢ worth of electricity per nighttime. You'll probably spend between $3.20 and $six total to run your heated bedding every nighttime for the sixteen weeks from November through February. Results volition vary based on your bedding's settings, the insulation of your bedding, and your own torso temperature, only overall information technology'due south a skillful deal.

How nosotros picked and tested

All heated bedding follows a similar design: A organization of insulated wires is encased in a coating or mattress pad, and a power cord with one or two controllers attaches to an external port on the bedding. The wires heat upwardly, and a series of safe mechanisms and thermostats regulate the temperature. We constitute that most bedding companies have a single heating system that they apply across models. That means all blankets and pads from a given manufacturer volition achieve similar temperatures—but the outer material and the control style (dial versus digital, number of estrus settings) differ across models.

Nosotros considered merely UL- or ETL-certified models. Regardless of the model or manufacturer, customer reviews signal that heated bedding has a high charge per unit of lacking units. Generally, the reports we saw weren't safety complaints (though there were some in very small-scale numbers); rather, they were reports of bedding that didn't initially turn on or stopped heating afterward a curt period of use. Most heated-bedding manufacturers offer three- to five-year warranties on their models; we eliminated any pads or blankets that had warranties under three years.

All of the electric blankets we found were made of polyester. This is likely because when polyester is laundered, it's less decumbent than cotton fiber or wool to stretch or shrink, which could warp the wires. Nosotros found mattress pads made of polyester, cotton and polyester, and 100% cotton. Every bit we note in our guide to the best sheets, cotton does a good job of wicking sweat and moisture away from the body, so information technology makes the bedding feel more breathable. This issue is important for heated bedding, which may crusade yous to sweat slightly from the warmth (though you should never keep your bedding then hot that information technology makes you sweat profusely). Polyester tends not to absorb wet likewise as cotton fiber.

Nosotros looked simply at electric blankets intended for use on a bed. These blankets are designed to be used flat, not wrapped effectually your torso or bunched up (considering in that situation as well much heat can build up and become dangerous). This is why you should not use any of these blankets while you're lounging on the couch—for that purpose, many manufacturers sell smaller heated throws meant to go across your lap. In addition, nosotros eliminated mattress pads that had no internal padding ("fill") because this feature is necessary to mask the feel of the wires.

We scanned thousands of owner reviews for electric blankets and heated mattress pads, cataloging those related to prophylactic concerns or burn hazards from operating the heated bedding nosotros tested. Since we couldn't dig up many comparative reviews of electric blankets or heated mattress pads, we made a list of every electric blanket and heated mattress pad nosotros could find on the sites of Amazon, Macy's, Target, and other retailers, catastrophe upward with 38 models. Nosotros and so focused on the most popular models with the highest customer reviews on Amazon and other retailer sites. Since many people opt for heated bedding to save on energy costs, we eliminated models that were extremely expensive (over $150 for a queen-size blanket or pad).

This process led us to seven mattress pads and eight electrical blankets to test. In 2022, nosotros tested one additional mattress pad, our current pick, since our previous mattress pad pick was experiencing prolonged stock issues.

Heated mattress pads

• Biddeford Quilted Heated Mattress Pad
• Biddeford Sherpa Heated Mattress Pad
• Perfect Fit Soft Estrus Micro-Costly Heated Mattress Pad
• Sunbeam Premium Quilted Heated Mattress Pad
• Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad (MSU3GQS)
• Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad (MSU3KQS)
• Sunbeam Water-Resistant Heated Mattress Pad
• Sunbeam Zoned Heated Mattress Pad (MSU7RQS)

Electric blankets

• Biddeford Comfort Knit Heated Blanket
• Biddeford Microplush Sherpa Electric Blanket
• Biddeford Solid Microplush Electrical Blanket
• Perfect Fit Soft Oestrus Micro-Fleece Electric Blanket
• Sunbeam Channeled Microplush Heated Blanket
• Sunbeam LoftTec Heated Blanket
• Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Coating

In our first round of testing, we tested each detail on a queen-size bed with two people for at least one night, and in some cases over multiple nights. Nosotros tried this bedding on both cotton percale and sateen sheets with a midweight comforter. The bedroom temperature remained in the mid-60s Fahrenheit during testing.

For each blanket and mattress pad, we assessed the following:

• How noticeable were the wires?
• Did the bedding achieve maximum temperature within approximately 20 minutes?
• How comfy was the bedding material?
• Were the controls easy to see and conform in the night?
• How warm were the blankets? Did they cause overheating?

We didn't measure out the maximum temperature of each blanket or pad because it was likely to be afflicted past other factors, such as the ambient room temperature (which we couldn't control), the bedding's insulation, and inconsistent heating. Instead, we subjectively assessed whether each blanket and pad achieved a toasty, sheets-fresh-out-of-the-dryer feel at the highest setting.

In 2017, we laundered the winners according to their care instructions to confirm that they didn't shed excessively, stretch, or compress when washed. They all performed just fine in that regard, and so in 2019 we laundered only our acme picks. We observed no problems with shedding, stretching, or shrinking, and all of the blankets and pads however worked later on being laundered.

In 2020, nosotros tested one additional heated mattress pad, the Sunbeam Therapeutic Heated Mattress Pad (it now appears to be discontinued), which had come down in price enough to make it worth looking at.

In 2022, nosotros tested some other mattress pad, the Sunbeam Zoned Heated Mattress Pad, our current pick, because our previous mattress pad pick was experiencing prolonged stock issues.

Our pick: Sunbeam Zoned Heated Mattress Pad

Photo: Sunbeam Photo: Sunbeam

Our pick

The Sunbeam Zoned Heated Mattress Pad offers tailored heating across three banded regions (roughly the upper body, middle body, and lower trunk); for queen and king sizes, this doubles to vi—three zones per side. The wireless digital command (a rare characteristic for most heated pads) has numbered heat settings up to 10, providing you a range for where and how yous'd similar some extra warmth in bed. This mattress pad too has an all-cotton quilted top, one of the few that's made of 100% cotton. The fill up (held in place with a wave-like stitch pattern that'south spaced nigh 3½ inches apart) is polyester, with a loft that adds condolement to the mattress without feeling overly cushioned (although this is certainly subjective). The heated wires were virtually undetectable.  The king and queen pads demand but 1 outlet, different other heated bedding we tried from Perfect Fit and Biddeford, which required ii. It as well has locking connector ports to keep the cords deeply attached to the pad—something nosotros didn't see on pads from other brands nosotros tried.

If you don't want to rut different zones of your mattress, you can also employ this pad with all-over temperature control, similar to whatsoever other heated mattress pad. This model also has a preheat part, to quickly warm up the bed before you become in (it then automatically lowers the heat back to your desired setting). Only if y'all slumber hot and just want to target a item muscle group that gives you problem, or if you simply want tailored heating, the zones are easy to arrange. The wireless digital control (an infrared remote operated by AAA batteries, not included) makes it uncomplicated to arrange heat past private zone or all 3 together. So you could heat your lower back at level 10, your legs at level 2, and your upper torso could remain unheated. Or y'all could adjust all of these to the aforementioned heat setting.

The wireless control itself is larger than the controls of other pads we tested, about the size of a generous sandwich, making its digital display easier to read, with helpful diagrams of the heat zones that correspond with the digital display numbers. Although information technology'south not equally intuitive equally a simple upwards or down switch, it'southward close (peculiarly with a quick glance at the transmission). And we liked that the temperature toggles were concrete buttons, making information technology possible to use by experience. Temperature settings range from zero (off) to 10. (None of the bedding items nosotros tested immune programming of exact temperatures; they offered only numerical settings.) If you just want to estrus all three bands to the same setting, you tin also practice that, past pressing the upwards or downward button on the control without selecting a zone. There is as well the choice on queen and king sizes to switch between controlling the whole bed for a single user, or to split it downwards the eye, creating six rut zones.

The Sunbeam Zoned Heated Mattress Pad uses a wireless digital command that lets you preheat the pad and toggle between temperature settings across three areas (half-dozen areas for a queen or king). Photo: Sunbeam

Sunbeam's heated bedding includes a unique plug, which attaches the controllers and power supply to the bedding with a firm locking mechanism on either side of the connection port. Although plugging in or unplugging the controllers takes some effort, this design ensures that they won't come loose. This feature is useful both from a functional perspective (you lot won't accidentally disconnect the plug and turn off your bedding's heat if you kick it while sleeping) and as an extra condom feature (a loose connection port could crusade overheating or sparking).

The mattress pad warmed up most the same as the other pads did. After 10 minutes at the highest setting, information technology made our bed comfortably warm; within xx minutes it had reached its maximum temperature, which was toasty but non sweltering. The pad was responsive when we adapted the temperature to a lower setting, and information technology cooled down quickly after we close it off. The control too lets you lot choose "automated off."

With an overall rating of over four stars beyond almost 4,000 Amazon reviews at this writing, this Sunbeam pad is also well liked (for heated bedding). We have also seen fewer complaints for Sunbeam bedding overall compared with other brands we considered for testing. This mattress pad comes with a three-year warranty.

Flaws but non dealbreakers

The wireless remote comes with some caveats. The remote's large size makes the display legible and comfy to use, but it's a little over 5 inches wide (about the size of a Game Boy Advance)—so it will take up space on your bedside table. And you'll take to pass information technology back and along if yous share your bed with a partner, or bug them to change your settings for yous, which some reviewers noted can get annoying. For a mattress pad with separate-zoned heating (on the queen or king size), nosotros found it odd that this model comes with just one control to share. In contrast, our runner-up selection comes with ii controllers: one attached to each side. We recollect the lack of cords is a squeamish upgrade, but we'll go on an center on the long-term functionality of the remote.

All of the heated bedding nosotros considered had a sizable number of negative Amazon reviews—near 10% to 15% of all reviews—citing defective products. At the time we checked, the Sunbeam Zoned Heated Mattress Pad had one of the highest Amazon customer ratings of the pads we tried, simply it also had its share of negative reviews. The complaints nosotros saw included reports of mattress pads that didn't work out of the box, pads that stopped heating on one side after a few uses, pads that stopped working within the warranty period, and beeping from the receiver. (Sunbeam's bedding items had most no complaints regarding failures that caused safety concerns.) If you do have an outcome, we've noticed (over the years we've worked on this guide) that the company is slow to respond to requests for client service through its online warranty form.

In general, heated mattress pads can be annoying when it comes to their cords and connecting them to outlets. You should never use any heated mattress pad with an extension cord, due to fire adventure. The cord blueprint therefore limits whether or not any detail mattress pad volition work for you lot, depending on your chamber layout and outlet location. The Zoned Mattress Pad in queen or male monarch requires an extra connection port at the pes of the pad, to allow you to control two different sides of the bed simultaneously. What you proceeds in heating control, you lose in wiring simplicity. Sunbeam'southward solution, a Y-shaped cord design, assumes that you volition be able to reach an outlet inside 5 feet from the approximate center of your bed. The first function of the cord runs about v feet from the outlet to a receiver (this picks up the remote control bespeak), which Sunbeam recommends placing underneath the bed. From the receiver, the cord splits into two, and yous plug each end into ii ports located at the pes of the bed. If you're lucky enough to have an outlet on the same wall as your bed, the cords can run as Sunbeam recommends (beneath the bed and out of sight), but this won't be possible for everyone. (Sunbeam's recommendation besides assumes that your bed has clearance beneath information technology, which may not be true.)

Although the quilted cotton meridian was comfortable and appeared to be well made, the pad has a mesh rubberband skirt that wraps around the side of the mattress to hold information technology in place, like a fitted sheet. We are non fully confident that this textile will concur up over time, only nosotros'll update this guide with long-term testing notes. (You lot may not want to wash the mattress pad very oftentimes, in general, since heavy washing and drying can degrade wiring over time. We recommend hang-drying if possible, but Sunbeam states that you lot can tumble-dry on low.)

If yous are above-average height or slumber low in your bed, your feet may occasionally castor against one of the plastic ports at the end of the mattress, where the controllers attach.

Runner-up: Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad

Photo: Michael Hession

Runner-upwards

Although the Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad lacks many features nosotros liked in our top pick, it does offer comfort and intuitive heating controls—if y'all can nevertheless find it (stock has been fluctuating for some time now). Information technology'southward a good option if you remember you'll use a heated pad only during the coldest weeks of wintertime, you prefer simple all-over heating, and you don't mind perchance feeling the wires inside.

In our tests this pad was comfortable overall just had more detectable wires; side-sleepers especially noticed them. They weren't so uncomfortable that they ruined sleep, though. Using thicker flannel sheets helped mask the feel of the wires a bit better.

This pad has simply vertical quilting, in dissimilarity with the square quilting on our main pick. Photograph: Michael Hession

Nosotros institute that this pad'south vertical quilting seams—spaced 7 inches apart, compared with the 3½-inch spacing betwixt the quilting blueprint on our top pick—gave the padding an opportunity to shift around. This pad also doesn't accept every bit much cushioning, so it won't make your bed feel much softer. And the polyester top won't wick moisture besides equally the cotton on our top pick (although, like our tiptop pick, this one uses a polyester make full).

The Quilted Heated Mattress Pad heated as rapidly as our top pick, reaching its maximum temperature within 20 minutes. Like the Zoned Heated Mattress Pad, this one requires only a single outlet, and information technology features the same locking mechanism on the connection port for added security—simply with only one port, cutting down on the amount of loose cords. It carries a three-year warranty. The queen- and king-size pads come up with dual-sided dial-based controls with 10 temperature settings. This pad doesn't have a preheat function. So if you desire to warm your bed quickly, yous need to ready the pad to high before getting in, and and then turn down the temperature later.

Our pick: Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Coating

Photograph: Sarah Kobos

Our pick

All of the electrical blankets we tried had problems, ranging from unpleasant-feeling textile to especially noticeable wires. In our test group, the Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Blanket was the best, since its overall combination of softness, performance, controls, and condom features helped it border out the competition.

Made of 100% polyester, the Velvet Plush has a notably soft, brushed texture that feels like a thick velour. Of the Sunbeam blankets we tested, its velvety-soft surface felt the most pleasant and did the all-time job of masking the wires inside. The Velvet Costly is a mid-weight blanket, and it didn't experience heavy or potent on tiptop of our testers.

In our tests, the Velvet Plush got hot and toasty inside 20 minutes, similar to the other blankets we tried. The version we received for testing had a manually adaptable dial with 10 heat settings (and no preheat selection). The type of controller may vary depending on where you lot order the blanket.

Like all Sunbeam heated bedding items, this blanket requires a single outlet even for the dual-controller versions. Blankets we tested from other manufacturers required two divide outlets. It too has the safety latched plug for the port at the base of the blanket, another characteristic exclusive to Sunbeam bedding.

Sunbeam'southward Velvet Costly is a soft and comfortable coating—although yous can feel the wires in the textile. Photo: Sarah Kobos

We could feel the wires in this blanket—but nosotros could feel the wires in all the top blanket contenders, and the Velvet Plush's wires were relatively less noticeable than those of another models. In one case we had the blanket on the bed, sandwiched between a comforter and a top canvas, the wires were less bothersome but still noticeable. Even and then, we slept comfortably. Since the blanket lies on top of you lot instead of under y'all, the wires don't have the potential to create pressure points or to dig into your body.

Flaws only not dealbreakers

The blanket's soft, velvety texture was somewhat slippery, and information technology tended to slide around, specially when we paired it with sateen sheets. We didn't have this upshot when we used flannel or percale sheets, which gripped the blanket better. But we have seen some owner reviews on Amazon noting that this blanket seems peculiarly glace.

Nosotros think the wires in this blanket might shift more over time than those in other blankets (like the Biddeford blankets we tried). The channels sewn into the Sunbeam design are wider, which can permit the wires to shift from side to side, possibly producing hot and common cold spots.

Besides that, the Velvet Plush has the aforementioned flaws as all Sunbeam blankets and all electric blankets in general; we saw a sizable number of owner complaints citing units that didn't work at all, stopped working presently, or didn't heat uniformly. One Wirecutter staffer who uses this Sunbeam blanket reported that on a few occasions information technology shocked him, even though it was unplugged at the time. We doubtable this was caused by static. Although all the bedding nosotros considered and tested is UL- or ETL-certified and thoroughly tested for safety, nosotros did run across some complaints on Amazon most owners getting sparks or shocks.

How to safely use heated bedding

The combination of electricity and bedding naturally makes some people nervous. But technology and fire-safety experts told usa that today's heated bedding is very prophylactic when certified past an independent testing lab (UL or ETL), kept in good working condition, and used correctly.

Heated bedding is low on the listing of common causes of household fires, said John Drengenberg, the consumer rubber director at UL. According to a 2019 home electrical fires written report from the National Fire Protection Association (which compiles data from burn down departments effectually the United states), mattresses or bedding caused iii% of all dwelling house electrical fires from 2012 through 2016, almost 270 fires per yr.

"The near important thing is that the blanket or pad is listed by an contained testing laboratory, such every bit UL," said Judy Comoletti, the NFPA's division manager for public education at the fourth dimension of our interview. UL has adult safety standards for heated bedding, and both UL and ETL examination products to ensure they meet them. Drengenberg told u.s.a. that UL-certified heated bedding goes through a battery of tests to verify that the inner heating wires don't sustain impairment during normal wearable and tear (a special machine simulates "elbows and knees"), that the electric components remain sealed from water during washing, that the outer fabric doesn't fire too quickly in case of fire, and that the bedding doesn't become besides hot. Drengenberg said that advances in the structure of heating wires and thermostats (which now require fewer connections, and thus take fewer failure points) have also led to safer products.

You practice still need to take some precautions when using heated bedding. Our experts gave us some general guidelines that you tin follow to forbid damage to the textile casing, wires, cords, and ports in your bedding:

• Keep pets off the bed when you're using heated bedding; they could scratch or chew the bedding and damage the wires.
• Don't fold, agglomeration up, or pinch your heated bedding while you're using it. That could cause excessive heat to build up, damaging the wires or even causing a burn down if other safety mechanisms fail.
• Don't wrap electric blankets effectually your body or use extremely heavy blankets or comforters on superlative of the heated bedding. Doing so can cause excessive heat buildup.
• Don't use a heated mattress pad and an electric coating simultaneously, since doing so tin besides produce too much heat.
• Don't use extension cords with heated bedding.
• Don't run electric bedding when yous aren't nearby.
• If the heated bedding gives off a strange smell, turn it off.
• If the bedding doesn't perform as it should, end using it immediately.
• Never employ heated bedding in a bed with infants, young children, people with reduced sensitivity to heat (since they may non be able to feel if they or the blanket are overheating), or anyone who wouldn't be able to remove the bedding, switch information technology off, and get out the area immediately in instance of a problem.
• If the bedding gets wet, shut it off immediately, even though UL-certified heated bedding has insulation to protect the wires and electronics from damage or danger from liquid. Launder and dry the bedding if necessary, and make sure it's fully dry earlier using it again.

Care and maintenance

Electric blankets and heated mattress pads can tolerate auto-washing and -drying, but they crave special treatment. These aren't "throw in the weekly wash" items. Don't launder your heated bedding more than you absolutely take to.

Regardless of the model, disconnect all the controllers and cords from the port earlier laundering. Yous should wash and dry out only one item at a fourth dimension. Never dry-clean, atomic number 26, or employ bleach on heated bedding.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for washing and drying. In general, instructions will tell you to wash the bedding on a brusque common cold cycle, to car-dry for merely v to 10 minutes on low, and to hang-dry to finish. Long or too-hot drying cycles could damage the wiring; in particular, manufacturers don't recommend using commercial dryers, which are often hotter than residential dryers.

When storing heated bedding, disconnect and carefully wrap the controller cords. Yous should roll or gently fold the bedding to avoid pressing, bending, or warping the wires. For this reason, yous shouldn't store heated bedding in compression bags, vacuum-seal it, or keep it underneath heavy items.

What to look forward to

While researching electrical blankets for an update to this guide in 2022, we were intrigued by the Warmee Smart Heated Blanket. This directly-to-consumer company claims to have "Invisiwire Tech"—wires that are extremely hard to experience. But the high toll point (almost $400 for a queen at the time of writing) gives usa pause. We're planning to try information technology out for our side by side circular of testing.

Nosotros're likewise planning to test Fifty.L.Bean's Wicked Cozy Heated Blanket. L.L.Bean touts the blanket's ultra-sparse and flexible wires, even heating, and two-sided design (featuring a plush, insulating layer on i side and a channeled plush on the other).

Other adept heated mattress pads and blankets

If y'all want a well-cushioned mattress pad: Sunbeam Premium Quilted Heated Mattress Pad was our previous peak choice, which we eliminated due to ongoing, prolonged stock issues (especially in queen and male monarch sizes). If you lot tin detect it, this quilted heated mattress pad with a cotton top and poly fill was the cushiest nosotros initially tested, with virtually undetectable heating wires. Its ergonomic, intuitive digital controls offered plenty of all-over heat-setting options (20) and a preheat pick, with the bonus that its king and queen pads came with two controllers (so each side could set and suit a unlike temperature). Information technology does not offer zoned heating.

If you lot want a water-resistant mattress pad: The Sunbeam Water-Resistant Heated Mattress Pad is similar to the Sunbeam Premium Quilted Heated Mattress Pad, but with h2o resistance meant to protect your mattress from spills or other accidents. It also has less fill. Until he got a new bed, Wirecutter editor Marker Smirniotis had been using this pad and plant it comfortable. Of the 6 ounces of fill, he said: "It isn't luxurious, simply it's definitely fine. I thought I felt the wires when I get-go slid into bed, just didn't really discover once I got comfortable."

If you care more nearly comfort in a coating than controls: The Biddeford Microplush Sherpa Electric Coating, our previous runner-up pick, was eliminated in 2022 because of ongoing stock bug. If you tin can find it, we found the Biddeford more comfortable than our Sunbeam top pick because information technology slipped around less on the bed and the wires were less noticeable. The microplush fabric—a smooth polyester fleece on 1 side and a fuzzy fleece on the reverse—wasn't as smooth equally the Sunbeam'due south velvety texture. But its two thick layers did a better task of hiding the internal wires than Sunbeam'southward fleece. Compared with the controls on the Sunbeam coating, though, Biddeford's controls were more awkward to use. And although both blankets accept ii sets of heat controllers, we didn't like that we had to plug in each side of the Biddeford separately (and thus use more outlets).

The competition

Heated mattress pads

Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad (MSU3KQS): This pad was okay, just the polyester top felt unpleasant to the touch, and its five ounces of fill felt too sparse to be comfy. Since this topper was so like to the Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad (MSU3GQS) simply worse in a few critical means, we cut it from the running early on on.

Sunbeam Therapeutic Heated Mattress Pad (now discontinued): This is an older version of our current zoned superlative pick. The zoned characteristic worked, but a lot of the bed beyond the zoned surface area would nonetheless get warm.

Perfect Fit Soft Heat Micro-Costly Heated Mattress Pad: This Perfect Fit pad has a lot of swell features. The company'southward Soft Oestrus line uses fine wires that are nearly undetectable and run on low-voltage DC, rather than AC, ability (which, as UL's John Drengenberg said, prevents shocks but doesn't eliminate the risk of fire). But each low-voltage DC controller has a four½-by-2-by-ane½-inch box that converts the power supply from AC to DC—on queen-size pads and up, this means two boxes and two dissever outlets.

The real concern for u.s.a. was a series of Amazon reviews claiming that the connector ports—where the controllers attach to the bedding—overheated, scorched, browned, or melted. Although we did non experience these problems, in at least one instance a reviewer reports that they got minor burns from coming into contact with the overheated port. Nosotros found many other reviews citing these kinds of problems. John Roth, Perfect Fit'southward CEO, told u.s. that the browning, melting, and overheating were probable caused by a poor connection due to cleaved or pulled wiring or a pinched or folded connector. He said this impairment could create increased resistance and overheating, leading to scorching, but would never cause a burn down.

Electric blankets

Biddeford Condolement Knit Heated Blanket: Nosotros eliminated this blanket, another previous runner-upwards, because its material was fabricated from scratchy polyester that nosotros didn't want near our faces at night. Information technology likewise had two plug sockets, like all Biddeford blankets, which isn't as convenient equally Sunbeam's one-socket design.

Biddeford Solid Microplush Electric Blanket: This model showed upwards with manufacturing defects—the illumination was broken on i of the control boxes, and the blanket didn't become hot enough in our xx-minute test. It besides heated inconsistently, with warmer patches in certain spots and cooler patches in others.

Perfect Fit Soft Heat Micro-Fleece Electric Blanket: We liked this blanket overall because its fine wires were undetectable, and the soft, fuzzy outer textile made information technology the well-nigh comfy coating in our tests. The slightly textured topper was comfortable though not cushy. But nosotros eliminated information technology for the same reasons that we did the Soft Heat Micro-Plush Heated Mattress Pad, cited in a higher place—namely irritation with the numerous cords and overall safety concerns most this company's products causing burns.

Sunbeam LoftTec Heated Blanket: This is Sunbeam'due south thickest electric coating. The heavy material felt unpleasant, and the shaggy texture reminded us of Muppet fur.

This article was edited past Daniela Gorny and Christine Ryan.

Sources

1. Richard Campbell, Electrical Fires, National Burn Protection Association , March 1, 2017

2. Ann Matturro Gault, Electric Blankets Are Cozy, But Are They Prophylactic?, SafeBee from UL , January 27, 2015

3. UL 964 Standard for Electrically Heated Bedding, UL

4. Steven T. Corneliussen, Electromagnetic fields generate a quarter-century of health worries, Physics Today , July 11, 2014

5. Paul Brodeur, The Hazards of Electromagnetic Fields Three–Video-Display Terminals, The New Yorker , June 18, 1989

6. Chris Mooney, Americans could save a fortune this winter — if they merely understood their thermostats (subscription required), The Washington Post , November 21, 2014

7. Electrical Power Monthly, US Free energy Information Administration

8. Winter heating bills likely to increase, but notwithstanding remain beneath recent winters, US Energy Information Assistants , October 13, 2016

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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-electric-blanket-and-heated-mattress-pad/

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