Electric Blanket - Battery Operated King and Queen Blankets

An electric blanket will keep you warm and toasty on cold winter nights, and may save you money on your heating bill as well.
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The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy puts the electric blanket at the top of its list of energy-efficient small home appliances. Operating an electric blanket for eight hours a night, six months a year costs half as much as operating a space heater for three hours a night in the same time period.

Originally termed electric bed warmers, the early electric blankets were used to aid in the treatment of tuberculosis patients who were prescribed lots of fresh air to restore their health. Weather permitting, patients would sleep outside in the cool night air, warmed by their electric blankets.

The first electric blankets, invented in the 1930s, featured thermostat controls that turned on and off automatically depending on room temperature. An important safety feature of the time allowed the thermostat to shut off if hot spots developed, reducing the risk of burning the skin or the blanket. In the mid-1980s, electric blankets were introduced without thermostats, featuring solid-state controls.

Technological advances in the ensuing years have resulted in blankets with "smart," unobtrusive wiring that senses what specific part of the body is warmer or cooler than another part, and delivers warmth where needed. Blankets are available with distinct heating zones and separate controls, assuring those who share a bed their own comfortable, personal level of warmth.

Manufacturing and consumer protection standards have resulted in the production of electric blankets that differ little in electrical safety and durability, so it is the extra features offered, and cost of those extras, that may influence your choice of which blanket to buy. The size blanket you considering may also affect your choices - features such as a dual controls and separate heating zones are often available only on queen and king sizes.

Throws are also a popular size for an electric blanket, and are available in attractive colors and patterns to be used in most rooms of the house. Popular brands include the Sunbeam electric blanket, an industry standard for more than 50 years.

Electric blankets are available in acrylic, fleece, wool, cashmere, and other typical blanket fabrics. And depending on the fabric, most modern electric blankets are also washable, making them even more practical for every day use.

Information as to medical conditions for which electric blankets may not be recommended can be found on the following website.

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