In short Electric blankets are generally very safe, but you have to buy the right one and use it wisely. This article gives you three tips on recognizing (extra) safe electric blankets and explains what else you can do to prevent accidents with your electric blanket.

A reassurance in advance: electric blankets sold by Dutch (web)shops are all very safe. In this country, electric blankets must meet strict safety requirements to be sold at all. However, there are indeed gradations in the safety of electric blankets. For example, some models are equipped with extra safety functions, which make you crawl under them slightly more relaxed. With the following tips, you can easily pick out these extra-safe models.

Tip 1: Reliable (web)shop

As mentioned, you can trust all electric blankets from Dutch (web)shops. Step one in buying a safe model is to choose the right (web)shop and not be tempted by cheap blankets from foreign outlets. If you are still unsure whether an electric blanket is safe enough, pay attention to certifications. If the blanket has a CE mark, it meets the applicable safety requirements.

Tip 2: Automatic shutdown

Modern electric blankets are becoming increasingly safer. There are almost no electric blankets on the market that do not have an automatic switch-off function. However, it is good to emphasize that this function works slightly differently for each blanket.

For example, one blanket switches itself off automatically after a standard number of hours, while with another blanket you have to set a timer yourself for a desired number of hours. In themselves, both functions are safe, but with only a timer you run a slightly higher risk of forgetting to switch this function on.

If you then go to bed and leave the electric blanket heated on the couch, or if you use your blanket in bed and then unexpectedly fall asleep quickly, it can become too hot during the night. Therefore, the safest option is a blanket that switches itself off after a while anyway.

Tip 3: Overheating protection

Unfortunately, automatic switch-off does not guarantee that a blanket will never overheat. If a blanket is damaged on the inside, the heat may no longer be distributed properly, and it may become too hot in certain places.

Or you may forget to turn on the timer so that the blanket stays warm after you crawl out from under it. If an electric blanket becomes too hot for whatever reason, it is useful if it has overheating protection. This ensures that the blanket automatically switches to a lower setting or switches off completely when the temperature is too high.

Wise use

Even if you have managed to get your hands on a super safe electric blanket, your blanket can still cause a short circuit (or worse: a fire) in certain situations. How you handle your blanket also determines how safe it is and remains.

For example, your first instinct is probably to simply fold the blanket after use, but the fire department recommends rolling up an electric blanket carefully and not too tightly. This prevents kinks in the wiring, which reduces the risk of accidents.

The place where you store your blanket is also important: not in damp rooms and not near liquids. Also, do not place heavy objects on it, because they can damage the blanket from the inside. When you are not using your blanket, always unplug it from the socket.

Replace in time

Electric blankets last quite a few years: about seven. But the blanket must remain in good condition until then. An electric blanket that is damaged earlier, for example by careless use or by pets that tamper with the blanket, is no longer so safe from that moment on.

An electric blanket can show all kinds of defects: think of problems with the wiring, but also of fraying and holes in the outer fabric. The latter is also dangerous, as the heat can penetrate the blanket and cause burns. So take the time to regularly check your electric blanket properly. Do you notice wear? Choose certainty and replace your electric blanket immediately.