As energy prices rise and temperatures drop this winter, more households are relying on electric blankets to keep warm. However, specialists from Land of Beds caution that improper use of electric blankets can negatively impact both your sleep quality and your mattress’s longevity.
Judith Ackers, Bed and Mattress Expert at Land of Beds, shares, “We get a lot of questions about electric blankets at this time of year. People want to know if it’s safe to leave them on overnight, whether they damage mattresses, and if they really help improve sleep. The answer depends entirely on how you use them.”
Electric blankets are excellent for warming up a cold bed before bedtime. But, if left on high heat throughout the night, they can disrupt your sleep by causing overheating or even damage your mattress. The optimal bedroom temperature for quality sleep is between 16°C and 19°C. While cozy warm bedding aids falling asleep faster, staying overly warm during the night can prevent deep, restorative rest.
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Judith advises turning the electric blanket off or reducing it to the lowest setting once you get into bed. “It might seem counterintuitive, but a cool room combined with warm bedding creates the best sleeping environment. Pre-warming your sheets is fine, but your room temperature should remain cool to help your body’s core temperature drop, which is essential for falling asleep properly.”
Though modern electric blankets come equipped with advanced safety features, research shows that roughly 5,000 house fires annually in the UK involve electric blankets, often linked to misuse. Leaving a heated blanket on all night increases the risk of overheating and dehydration. Rarely, burns or electrical issues have occurred.
“If you must keep it on overnight, ensure it’s at the lowest heat setting and is a recent model with proper safety certifications,” Judith warns.
Mattresses can also be damaged by prolonged heat exposure, especially memory foam types, which may lose shape or firmness and invalidate warranties. Judith explains, “I’ve seen mattresses with permanent impressions where an electric blanket was used incorrectly for years. If you’ve invested in a quality mattress, it’s wise to protect it from continuous heat.”
Instead of running your electric blanket all night, consider layering extra blankets, using hot water bottles, heated throws, or warm bed socks to stay comfortable and conserve energy safely.