January brings the coldest days of the year. What better way to stay warm than cuddling up with someone you love? In honor of National Cuddle Up Day in January, we’re highlighting electric blankets and heating pads, which help you stay cozy on bitter cold January nights.
Heating Pad Vs Electric Blanket
Heating pads are small, electrically heated pads, usually no smaller than about 12 inches square. They plug into the wall and generate heat at your desired intensity level, which you control with a small remote built into the power cord. These pads usually have removable, machine washable covers.
Electric blankets are larger and can cover your whole body. They’re usually made of plush fleece fabric to provide instant warmth. A remote built into the power cord lets you control the temperature and auto shut-off features improve safety.
Ways to Use Heating Pads and Electric Blankets
If you’re not sure whether you should invest in a heating pad or electric blanket, consider the top uses for each one:
- Heating pads relieve back pain, neck and shoulder tension, and arthritis: The small size of a heating pad allows it to target painful areas in your back, neck, shoulders, knees, and other parts of your body. Whether your pain is from muscle tension, stress, arthritis, or another condition, heating pads deliver moist heat for the relief you crave.
- Heating pads warm your feet: The foot of your bed is a great place to keep a heating pad. Turn it on a few minutes before hitting the sack to “preheat” your bed. With this technique, you can say goodbye to chilly toes in the winter.
- Electric blankets lower nighttime heating bills: With an electric blanket on your bed, you can turn the thermostat way down at night without feeling uncomfortable, saving energy in the process. With a programmable thermostat, a comfortable daytime temperature resumes when your alarm clock goes off, so you don’t have to climb out of bed into a freezing room.
- Electric blanket for cuddling with someone you love: Take your electric blanket off the bed and move it into the living room for movie night. There’s nothing like cuddling on the couch with your loved one under a heated blanket.
Heating Pad and Electric Blanket Safety Warnings
Even though today’s heating pads and electric blankets are safer than those manufactured years ago, there’s still a chance something could go wrong. To maximize safety while using heated bedding, follow these safety guidelines:
- Be cautious if you use an electric blanket on a memory foam mattress: Some manufacturers, including Tempur-Pedic, recommend not using electric blankets or heating pads on their mattresses because the added heat can damage the memory foam material over time. Other brands say the extra heat is not an issue, leaving you to make the final decision for yourself.
- Don’t use heating pads around pets: Clawing or biting a heating pad could puncture internal wiring insulation, damaging the wires, and potentially causing a fire.
- Don’t let certain people use electric blankets: Warming up bedding isn’t appropriate for infants, small children, people with disabilities, diabetics, the elderly, and anyone else who can’t control the heat level without assistance.
- Treat the cord carefully: Never kink the cord, wrap it around the built-in remote, or run it between the mattress and box spring.
- Keep the heated bedding flat: Never bunch up or fold a heating pad or electric blanket while in use. The excessive heat could create a fire hazard.
For more tips on selecting and using electric blankets and heating pads for a cozy, cost-effective winter, please contact Aire Serv®.
