CONSUMER GUIDE TO ELECTRIC BLANKETS
 The Electric Blanket Institute™ educates the public about and promotes the use of electric blankets and electric mattress pads.
Every autumn and winter there are numerous articles written in US newspapers and magazines about the use, care and safety of electric blankets, electric throws and electric mattress pads. Unfortunately for consumers, much of this information is written by people with little technical knowledge of electronics or bedding and therefore these articles often contain errors -- sometimes dangerous ones. The Electric Blanket Institute™ has written this comprehensive and unbiased guide to choosing, using and benefiting from these wonderful products.
Definitions of terms: Throughout these pages, the terms electric blankets and electric mattress pads are used synonymously with warming blankets and warming mattress pads and also heated blankets and heated mattress pads as well as automatic blankets and automatic mattress pads. Sometimes mattress pads are called mattress covers. Collectively these are called electric or warming or heated or automatic bedding. Electric throws are sometimes called “throw blankets” or “lap blankets”. They are essentially small electric blankets and heated blanket information in this article can be understood to be the same for heated throws.
CONTENTS OF THIS GUIDE
General information about warming blankets and pads
- Reasons for using electric bedding
- Number of electric blankets or electric mattress pads sold each year
United States Worldwide
- Cost of electric blankets and mattress pads
- Electric Mattress Pads vs. Electric Blankets – Preferences
- Features common in the United States
- How warming mattress pads and warming blankets work
Using an electric blanket or electric mattress pad
- Low or gentle warmth for all night use
- Washing and Connectors
- Setting up your product
- Using with other bedding
Energy usage and heating cost savings from electric blankets and electric mattress pads
- Electric blanket energy usage and cost of operating
- Electric mattress pad energy usage and cost of operating
- Energy and heating cost savings due to use of an electric blanket or electric mattress pad
- Example of cost savings
Health benefits obtained from Heated Blankets and Mattress Pads
- Arthritis and fibromyalgia pain relief
- Muscle soreness and aches including Back Pain
- Flexibility and range of motion
- Better sleeping
- Tension reduction
- Allergies and Dust Mites reduction
- Post-polio Syndrome,
- Raynaud’s Phenomenon.
Care of electric blankets and electric mattress pads
- Washing and Drying your Electric Blanket or Mattress Pad
- Ironing Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
- Dry cleaning Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
- Storing Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
Are Electric Blankets Safe?
- Who should NOT use an Electric Blanket or Mattress Pad
Small children People who are helpless or paralyzed People who are insensitive to heat People who cannot understand safe use
- Pregnancy considerations with Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
- Artificial pacemaker considerations with Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
- Diabetes considerations with Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
- EMF’s (60 Hz Electromagnetic Fields) – Health and Cancer Concerns
- General safety rules for electric blankets and mattress pads
What to look for when purchasing an electric blanket
- Price vs. Features of Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
- Ease of use of Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads
- UL listed products for sale in the United States
Professional Reviews by brand and which retailers carry which brands of products
ELECTRIC BLANKET REVIEWS AND RETAILERS CARRYING EACH BRAND
•Reviews of Heated Electric Blankets by brand
•Where You Can Buy each brand of Heated Electric Blanket (brief list of retailers selling each brand)
ELECTRIC MATTRESS PAD REVIEWS AND RETAILERS CARRYING EACH BRAND
•Reviews of Heated Electric Mattress Pads by brand
•Where You Can Buy each brand of Heated Electric Mattress Pads (brief list of retailers selling each brand)
Where to obtain more information about electric blankets and electric mattress pads
Contact Information for all the major USA producers.
Information about the authors of this website
Information about the Electric Blanket Institute™
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