Westinghouse Electric Blanket

We'd skip the Westinghouse Flannel Electric Blanket. Get the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw instead: a 50 by 60 inch throw with four heat settings and ETL certification that is machine washable and dryer safe following its care label, and it shuts off by itself after 4 hours. Whichever you buy, follow its own manual for sleeping under it, because the guidance on leaving a blanket on overnight differs between sources. If you want to compare more models before you choose, see the best electric blanket.

Is It Safe to Sleep with an Electric Blanket on All Night?

Follow the manual for your own blanket, because the UL Solutions article and the manuals differ on overnight use. The UL Solutions article quotes burn director Derek E. Bell: switch the blanket on about half an hour before bed and switch it off before getting in. The Home & Comfort manual says to use the lowest setting for sleeping or long use, and the HEMA manual says to set L or 1 for the same use. How long you can sleep with an electric blanket on low is set by your own blanket's manual, so follow that one. If you do leave one on overnight, Electrical Safety First says it should have temperature control, automatic shut-off and overheat protection.

Your household decides which blanket fits:

• You want a 50 by 60 inch, ETL certified, machine-washable and dryer-safe throw, also sold in Taupe Trellis and Ivory: the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw.
• The person who would sleep under it is an infant or young child, is paralyzed, can't feel or react to heat, or can't work the controls: don't buy an electric blanket for that bed, and ask their doctor about any condition that affects how they sense heat.
• You have a pacemaker or another implanted device: ask your doctor or cardiologist and your device's maker before you buy any electric blanket.

On the pacemaker question, the makers' guidance differs. Boston Scientific lists electric blankets as safe for use with a pacemaker when they're in good working condition and used as intended, and gives no distance. The British Heart Foundation recommends keeping one 15cm (6 inches) from the pacemaker.

UL Solutions says people with diabetes are more vulnerable to burns, and electric blankets are not recommended for people with urinary incontinence. Sunbeam's manual also lists a diabetic among people who should not use heated bedding. Whether that applies to you is a question for your doctor.

If you own or are eyeing a Bedsure heated blanket, check its model number against the 2023 recall of about 350,000 units, where the controller can malfunction and cause fire and burn hazards. The remedy is a full refund.

On cancer, the evidence doesn't establish a cause. WHO says the childhood leukaemia evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and calls the evidence for other cancers much weaker. The National Cancer Institute says studies of household appliances show no consistent evidence for childhood leukemia, and its one study of electric blanket use found no statistically significant link to breast cancer.

Do Wireless Electric Blankets Exist?

Yes: some heated blankets use a battery pack, and the BougeRV 12V blanket has a cigarette lighter connector. A mains blanket typically draws 60 to 100 watts in use, so a 100 watt electric blanket sits at the top of that range. A 12V blanket draws less: the BougeRV 12V blanket is rated at 0 to 48 W. Its heating elements sit in the centre third, so it suits one person, and a reviewer estimated about 13 hours on a 1024 Wh power station at maximum.

Run any blanket only from the power its label lists. Sunbeam's guides say to use the appliance only from an outlet of the voltage marked on it, A.C. only.

Westinghouse Electric Blanket Manual

Use the manual that came with your own blanket, because settings, timers and warnings differ from one model to the next. If a blanket won't heat, your steps stop at three: check it for visible damage, unplug it, and check the control cord is firmly connected before you plug it back in. Sunbeam's manual says not to attempt any internal adjustments, and after two or three failed resets you stop using the blanket and contact the maker. HEMA's manual says never to repair the blanket yourself. Its display shows P for a connection problem and E for an internal short circuit.

Westinghouse Electric Blanket Parts

If a part of your blanket is damaged, replace the blanket. Check both sides for worn areas, loose plugs, cracks or breaks in the wiring and charred spots, and throw out a damaged blanket. Don't open, rewire or repair the cord or controller. Roll the blanket for storage, since folding one in use can damage the internal wires.