Housewares Electric Blankets Winter Heat

I used to work for a sister company of Sunbeam (a huge maker of electric blankets), so we heard a LOT about them at work.

I have them and I used them. Because of the dangers of having the heat on too long, the blankets do now come with automatic shutoffs after a certain amount of time. So, that limits the issues of burning yourself or falling asleep and something happening.

As for where they are made, Sunbeam manufactures them themselves (not contract-manufactured by some other company that then sells them to Sunbeam). I know they have a huge blanket factory in Mexico, but as with nearly everything from computers to cells phones & toys, some electronic components are sourced from China or some other Asian country. Unfortunately, the U.S. just doesn't manufacture certain things anymore and we Americans aren't willing to pay the price at the cash register that it would take to make the stuff here. However, many of the final products of the Sunbeam blankets are assembled in the Sunbeam-owned factories in Mexico. They do have multiple factories in China, but I don't know if they make the blankets there. Most of their small kitchen appliances are done there.

NOTE: Sunbeam headquarters is in Florida and the parent company is out of New York, so at least the profits are staying in the U.S!

My husband bought me an electric blanket a few years ago that I use while sitting on the couch at night watching TV. We also have a heated mattress pad on our queen size bed (on the queen size and up they have dual controls).

We use them to keep our heating costs down and they don't raise our electric bill.

We also recently bought a space heater to keep our downstairs a little warmer since we just had a baby and she's in her swing a lot (so her little hands get super cold, along with her little cheeks).

I'm not sure where ours are manufactured, but I can say that I've washed the electric blanket and have used it since and haven't had any issues.

We had one a number of years ago. You need to keep check on the wires. My husband and I were having our bedroom painted and were sleeping on the couch with the sliding doors open a little during winter. I started to smell something burning. I was sniffing around the blanket when a spark went up my nose. We haven't owned one since.

J.

I have a heated mattress pad...and I LOVE it! I recently got one for my daughter's bed too. We don't have any heat vents in the bedrooms, so this is a way to keep warm at night. It's a nice alternative to an electric blanket. And my daughter likes to "turn the bed on" as part of her bedtime routine now! I double checked the tag, and the newer one is made in China. I have not had any problems with it.

Why not try a down comforter. Before we had young kids my hubbie and I used to turn the heat way down at night and use the down comforter. You stay really warm (hot even). Plus there is nothing to plug in. Once our kids are old enough to keep themselves covered up at night I plan on buying one for each of them.

not a good idea to sleep with an EMF on your body all night long

I'm not sure where they're all made, but I know lots of people who use them.
Don't ever believe anyone who tells you it's always warm, sunshine and oranges in California.
We freeze.
Personally, no matter how cold it gets, I like having more blankets as opposed to a heat source. I like my sheets and pillow cases cold. No flannel or electric blankets for me, but just about everyone I know uses them.

It's a matter of preference and a way to keep your body warm if you have a big house to heat at night.

Some people couldn't get along without them.

x

Sorry no advice, but I'm so glad you asked this question! I've been thinking of getting my hubby an elec throw blanket. When we watch t.v. in the evening, he is so much more cold natured then me, so he cranks up the heater and leaves me almost sweating! I would have to believe that they are made better now?? At least safer anyway!