What electric blanket do I need for my oddly sized bed?
September 28, 2007 8:38 AM Subscribe
I have a small double or three-quarter size bed. Most people seem to prefer an underblanket (or mattress warmer) to the traditional electric overblanket and I think I would too. But should I get a single-size and leave a few inches of bed unheated? Or get a double-size and wrap the excess around the side of the mattress?
And if I find I'm one of those people that can't get comfortable on wires, is it safe to put an extra sheet or cushy mattress-liner between myself and the electrics?
And if I find I'm one of those people that can't get comfortable on wires, is it safe to put an extra sheet or cushy mattress-liner between myself and the electrics?
Another option is to put a foam memory core mattress pad on top of your mattress. Those things hold body heat better than any blanket I've ever seen.
posted by saladin at 9:01 AM on September 28, 2007
posted by saladin at 9:01 AM on September 28, 2007
Whether one prefers an overblanket or an underblanket might depend on the room air temperature. I sleep in a pretty cold place and seriously prefer an overblanket. It's warmer and more comfortable, imo.
But if you go for an underblanket, SCdB's advice is good.
posted by anadem at 9:21 AM on September 28, 2007
But if you go for an underblanket, SCdB's advice is good.
posted by anadem at 9:21 AM on September 28, 2007
I'd go for the smaller one -- it'll warm up the majority of the surface and your own body heat will take over.
When I got my mattress warmer I feared that I would find the wires uncomfortable -- I can be a bit oversensitive about this sort of thing. My fears were unfounded, and I'm now a mattress-warmer evangelist. If they do bug you, I would go for an extra sheet rather than a mattress liner -- I think that the mattress liner would insulate your body from the heat too much, undermining the mattress warmer.
posted by desuetude at 9:49 AM on September 28, 2007
When I got my mattress warmer I feared that I would find the wires uncomfortable -- I can be a bit oversensitive about this sort of thing. My fears were unfounded, and I'm now a mattress-warmer evangelist. If they do bug you, I would go for an extra sheet rather than a mattress liner -- I think that the mattress liner would insulate your body from the heat too much, undermining the mattress warmer.
posted by desuetude at 9:49 AM on September 28, 2007
You might want to consider an even smaller one in the form of an electric footwarmer. I find that, with my feet warm, the rest of me never feels cold, and it eliminates the "sleeping on wires" issue.
Between the two that you are considering though, I don't think you will suffer from cold spots if just the edges aren't covered, and I don't think it's a good idea to tuck a large one in. I believe that the manufacturer generally recommends against this because of heat build up and fire hazard.
posted by MsElaineous at 11:26 AM on September 28, 2007
Between the two that you are considering though, I don't think you will suffer from cold spots if just the edges aren't covered, and I don't think it's a good idea to tuck a large one in. I believe that the manufacturer generally recommends against this because of heat build up and fire hazard.
posted by MsElaineous at 11:26 AM on September 28, 2007
You are not supposed to tuck in electric wires.
I have no experience with the underblanket style, but I do with the standard over blanket thing. I hated them because you always felt too hot or cold, and they had hot spots. Somebody gifted me a newer one, and I was completely amazed. It said on the label that you can't feel the warmth if you stick your hand under it, but it's designed to provide a comfy, even warmth that feels very natural, and it does. If you haven't tried one for years, I'd give them another shot. The techonology seems to have come a long ways.
I like mine probably better than I would an underblanket, because I can lay back a corner of it as a themostat. I may be weird. I operate on the theory that if you lay it back, there's 2 layers of blanket between the electrics, and one of them is exposed to the air. It never seems to get a hot spot under the fold. You don 't need it, but for the benefit of posterity they are available in dual control models.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 11:59 AM on September 28, 2007
I have no experience with the underblanket style, but I do with the standard over blanket thing. I hated them because you always felt too hot or cold, and they had hot spots. Somebody gifted me a newer one, and I was completely amazed. It said on the label that you can't feel the warmth if you stick your hand under it, but it's designed to provide a comfy, even warmth that feels very natural, and it does. If you haven't tried one for years, I'd give them another shot. The techonology seems to have come a long ways.
I like mine probably better than I would an underblanket, because I can lay back a corner of it as a themostat. I may be weird. I operate on the theory that if you lay it back, there's 2 layers of blanket between the electrics, and one of them is exposed to the air. It never seems to get a hot spot under the fold. You don 't need it, but for the benefit of posterity they are available in dual control models.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 11:59 AM on September 28, 2007
I'm not so sure putting on a too-small mattress warmer will work very well. In my experience they behave just like fitted sheets, and having a fitted sheet that was that much smaller would be a recipe for pain.
(And trust me, I feel really sorry for you, because having a mattress warmer is one of life's little joys. You don't at all feel the wires, or even notice that it's there except that your bed is always just right, never cold.)
posted by anaelith at 2:54 PM on September 28, 2007
(And trust me, I feel really sorry for you, because having a mattress warmer is one of life's little joys. You don't at all feel the wires, or even notice that it's there except that your bed is always just right, never cold.)
posted by anaelith at 2:54 PM on September 28, 2007
I would get the smaller electric and put a light coverlet or blanket whose sides overlap the sides of the bed to hold the electric in place.
We got one of the electric blankets with wires so tiny that you can't feel them at all and we really like it. Ours is a queen size on a king size bed and this setup works fine.
posted by msbaby at 5:59 PM on September 28, 2007
We got one of the electric blankets with wires so tiny that you can't feel them at all and we really like it. Ours is a queen size on a king size bed and this setup works fine.
posted by msbaby at 5:59 PM on September 28, 2007
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posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:50 AM on September 28, 2007