Are Sunbeam Electric Blankets Good

Yes, the Sunbeam Royal Mink Sherpa Heated Blanket is a good one, and the Sunbeam Nordic Premium Electric Blanket is the one to skip because it has cool spots in the middle. If you want a throw, pick between the Sunbeam and the Brookstone below; if you want to cover a whole bed, the Beautyrest is the pick.

Consumer Reports Electric Blankets

Consumer Reports put Sunbeam among six brands in its heated blanket test, and [two of the six]( https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/blankets/best-heated-blankets-a6176606103/) aren't worth the money. Choose by what you want to put the blanket on.

• You want a throw for the couch and prefer the Sunbeam name: get the Sunbeam Royal Mink Sherpa Heated Blanket. It [warms up in less than a minute]( https://www.bhg.com/rooms/bedroom/bedding/best-heated-blankets/), heats evenly and hides its wires, with four settings and a four-hour auto-off.
• You want a trellis-print or ivory throw: get the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw. It has four settings, a four-hour auto shut-off and an ETL mark, and it comes in Blue Trellis, Taupe Trellis and Ivory.
• You want to cover a whole bed: get the Beautyrest Heated Electric Blanket in Twin to King. It has a 10-hour auto shut-off and was named [Best Value]( https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/what-to-buy/g69176799/best-heated-blankets/) in lab tests.

For the best heated throw for winter, we'd get the Royal Mink Sherpa if you want Sunbeam and the Brookstone if you want a choice of colors. Both shut off after four hours. If you are shopping for a bed instead of a throw, the best electric blanket page is the place to start.

For the best rated electric blanket on a bed, get the Beautyrest Heated Electric Blanket in Twin to King.

Overnight use is where the sources split. A burn director quoted by [UL Solutions]( https://www.ul.com/insights/electric-blankets-are-cozy-are-they-safe) says to switch the blanket on about half an hour before bed and switch it off before you get in. The Home & Comfort and HEMA manuals say that for sleeping or long use you should set the lowest setting, which is lowest on the Home & Comfort and L or 1 on the HEMA. Follow the manual for your own blanket.

A flashing F, FF, F1 or F2 on a Sunbeam display signals a problem. Unplug it, check the control connection, plug it back in and turn it on, and stop after [2 or 3 reset attempts]( https://www.costco.ca/wcsstore/CostcoCABCCatalogAssetStore/Attachment/EnglishHeatedBeddingGuide.pdf). Then disconnect the cord and contact Sunbeam Consumer Care. That is where owner troubleshooting ends. Most Sunbeam heated products carry a five-year warranty for the original buyer, so keep the receipt. If you are weighing Sunbeam against other brands, the sunbeam heated blanket page is where to look.

Sunbeam's manual says not to use its throw on a waterbed, bunk bed or mechanically adjustable bed, and not to run any heated bedding with another electrically heated product.

Serta Electric Blankets

Skip the Serta Heated Blanket. In lab tests it was not as soft as it should be, it earned lower comfort scores from consumer testers, and its heating was neither good nor bad.

Can you wash a heated blanket with wires in it?

Yes, if the maker's care instructions allow it. Sunbeam's steps run in this order: disconnect the power cord from the wall before you detach the control, presoak 15 minutes in cold water with mild soap, wash on a gentle cold cycle for two minutes, rinse in cold water and spin dry. Then preheat a home dryer on low for 2 minutes, tumble 10 minutes on low, and remove the blanket while still damp. Stretch it back to size and drape it over a clothesline or shower rod without clothespins. Never use a commercial or laundromat dryer, and never dry clean, bleach, iron or wring it. Don't reconnect it until it is completely dry.

The Brookstone Cozy throw is machine washable and dryer safe, following its care label.