Keeping warm through the winter is important – but so is staying safe
With frosty mornings and icy evenings now firmly upon us, countless households across Britain are battling to stay warm. A popular method of remaining snug in bed involves using a heated blanket; however, these can present dangers.
If you’re amongst the millions of Britons who rely on heated blankets to keep warm in bed, you could be putting both your mattress and yourself at risk.
Those using a memory foam mattress alongside a heated blanket need to understand the potential hazards.
Memory foam is specially designed to react to body heat and moulds itself around your form, reports the Express.
This characteristic provides its distinctive embracing comfort. Yet when paired with a heated blanket, the foam can be pushed beyond its recommended temperature threshold.
Martin Seeley, sleep expert and CEO at MattressNextDay, explained: “Memory foam is designed to work with your body’s natural warmth. Introducing extra heat can interfere with the foam’s structure, leading to premature wear and reducing its ability to support your body properly.”
“In extreme cases, prolonged overheating can pose a safety risk.”
When combining a memory foam mattress with an electric blanket, you face an increased risk of overheating during sleep. The contained heat can disrupt the body’s temperature regulation, resulting in disturbed sleep, night sweats, and dehydration.
However, heated blankets come with their own set of risks. Misuse of these blankets can lead to house fires, with approximately 43 fires per year linked to faulty electric blankets.
In nearly all instances, these blankets were at least a decade old.
Martin advised: “You should never keep an electric blanket for more than ten years.
“At the first sign of wear, such as exposed wires or frayed fabrics, it’s time to replace it.”
If you’re looking for a way to stay cosy without risking damage to your mattress, a heated throw could be a great alternative.
Martin suggested: “Try switching it on for 10 to 15 minutes before bed, then turning it off once you’re tucked in. You’ll drift off warm and comfortable without using unnecessary energy overnight.”
