Heated blankets

Autumn. Leaves rustle underfoot in the street. The thermometer is slowly but surely sinking lower and lower. It's not hot at work, at home - some people don't heat well, while others save on heating.

More and more I want to feel the warmth from the crib or sofa. Sleeping in woolen socks to warm your feet means keeping your skin away from clothing at all. And the other half grumbles all the time, feeling the touch of cold feet. What to do? Think about buying an electric blanket!

Back in 1912, the American scientist and inventor Sidney I. Russell proposed the first model of a thermal blanket, or rather a thermal mattress cover, since a person put this device under a sheet. And 25 years later, in the same place in the United States, it was precisely heated blankets that appeared. Such a device works when connected to a power source. Insulated wires or heating elements are embedded in the fabric of the blanket.

For models released after 2001, a voltage of 24 volts is sufficient for operation. They are equipped with an emergency shutdown system to prevent overheating or fire. Earlier electric blankets lack such a mechanism, making them more dangerous.

Some modern models of electric blankets use hydrocarbon fibers as wires in their system. They are thinner and less visible among the filler. Heating of car seats in cars is carried out using the same carbon fiber wires. The most advanced models of electric blanket-blankets also have rheostats that react to the temperature of the human body and, thus, change the temperature indicators of the blanket in order to limit the user's overheating.

Since the thermal blanket is an electrical appliance, let's first get acquainted with its technical aspects. Electrically heated blankets are used in everyday life, in medicine, in cosmetology. With the help of a professional medical model, you can warm up a newborn baby in a maternity hospital or perform a physiotherapy procedure. In cosmetology, such electric blankets are used to wrap clients during wrapping.

And for home use, blankets with the following characteristics are suitable:

• Power - 40-150 watts.
• The heating rate to a temperature of 35 degrees is 10-30 minutes.
• Electric cord 180-450 cm long.
• Supplying children's models with a particularly sensitive ultra-precise sensor.
• The presence of a wire with a 12 Volt cigarette lighter plug will allow you to use such a blanket in the car or next to it in nature, as well as to professional drivers during the flight.

• The partial heating function will increase the temperature of the product only in a certain part of it (for example, in the legs).
• Power consumption: when warming up - no more than 100 watts, during further work - no more than 30 watts. Especially economical models consume from 10 to 15 watts.
• The ability to disconnect electrical components before washing.
• The presence of 2-9 modes for more comfortable use. If you are offered an electric blanket only with the function of connecting to a 220 V network, refuse to purchase. The minimum requirement is a two-mode blanket to be able to reduce the heating temperature without removing it.

In the manufacture of thermal blankets for medical institutions and beauty salons, the top layer is made water-repellent for the possibility of subsequent processing. It can be nylon or nylon, treated with a special compound. The top layer of home electric trays can be made of natural or artificial fibers.

Natural include:

• calico - breathable, not electrified, forms pellets;
• plush - soft, pleasant to the body; it is better to wash a new thing or at least vacuum it, since a lot of small threads remain on the fabric after sewing;
• cotton - lightweight, breathable, but very wrinkled;
• wool - retains heat well, but slightly prickles and is not durable; may be an allergen.

Artificial fibers are:

• acrylic - does not require ironing, soft, does not allow air to pass through, rolls down over time;
• microfiber - soft, delicate, breathable, lightweight and fluffy;
• polyamide - does not retain water, dries quickly, does not wrinkle, quickly loses its color, but acquires static electricity;
• polycotton - a blended polyester / cotton fabric, like a synthetic material - strong and electrostatic, like a natural material - breathes and forms pellets;
• fleece - lightweight, breathable, hypoallergenic, retains heat well.

Fillers are also made from natural or synthetic fibers.

• Artificial polyurethane does not electrify, does not cause allergies, dust mites and fungal microorganisms do not live in it.
• Wool batting - a natural material for those who love a heavy blanket.
• Wool with carbon fibers - blended fabric that incorporates the characteristics of natural and artificial yarns.

Since the warm blanket is produced in many countries, the size range may differ from that given by us. The main thing, when choosing, remember: the heating elements do not cover 100% of the product area. A few centimeters from each edge are left without electric heating elements. Therefore, it may be worth taking a larger thermal blanket so as not to take it away from each other at night.

Such a beautiful blanket should not be used all the time, even by healthy people. An organism spoiled by constant warmth will be lazy to use its own resources to protect against various viruses and infections. Do not weaken your own immune system so much.

It is clear that when using an electric blanket, the body temperature will rise. Excessively high temperature can provoke the growth of unhealthy cells in the body or accelerate the inflammatory process.

Despite the fact that diabetics are often freezing, such a blanket is also not recommended for them due to the peculiarities of the circulatory system. People who carry pacemakers and other foreign objects in their bodies will also be kept warm in other ways, with blankets and blankets. The electric blanket does not suit them.

For more information on how to choose an electric blanket, contraindications, see the next video.

If you enter a query into a search engine about manufacturers of electric blankets, you will easily find the answer.

Manufacturers really please us with their proposals:

• Beurer (Germany) - you will find the most reviews about the products of this company. Beurer has developed its own BSS® safety guarantee system: all electric trays have protection sensors that prevent the elements from overheating and switch off in time.The cost of different models in 2017 prices ranges from 6,700 to 8,000 rubles in online stores. But buyers agree to pay this money, since they are amazed at the capabilities of the Beurer electric blanket: a detachable power cable, quick heating and self-shutdown after 3 hours, 6 temperature settings and a backlight on the display (so you don't have to look for a remote control at night). Users do not feel the heating elements in the blanket. It is very convenient to use in the country. And it is convenient to use on the road, as it is very compact.

• Electric blanket Medisana also offered by the German company of the same name. Breathable and sweat-absorbent microfiber outer layer. Four temperature settings. Cost (2017) - 6,600 rubles. Buyers say that they do not feel sorry for the money spent on the purchase, since the blanket fully met their expectations. It is safe, easy to wash, very soft, and always stays dry. Has a 3-year warranty.
• Imetec company (in different online stores, different host countries of the brand are indicated: China and Italy) offers electric trades with a cotton outer layer. In the season of discounts, such a blanket can be bought for less than 4,000 rubles. at a normal cost of about 7,000 rubles.

• Russian company "Heat Factory" offers electric trades "Prestige" at a price of 3450 - 5090 rubles. And buyers are satisfied with this, because a feature of these products is the ability to use not only as a blanket, but also as a sheet. Users write that the duvet is easy to dry clean. The fabric does not deform or roll, the body does not sweat under it. The blanket is safe and can be used in two modes. Full warming up takes twenty to thirty minutes. It saves a lot in cold weather.
• Electric blanket with infrared heating Blanket from EcoSapiens produced by the eponymous Russian company from natural materials of domestic manufacturers. By using carbon fiber as a heating element? the blanket was found to be absolutely safe. The auto-off sensor is built into the control panel. The price of this model is 3543 rubles. The manufacturer claims that, if desired and necessary, the heating element of the blanket can be inserted into another cover (blanket), and then it will serve for many more years.

Read the enclosed instructions for safe use of the blanket.

Check out our general guidelines:

• Store electric blankets at a temperature of 5-40 degrees.
• Do not place heavy objects on top of it.
• Keep away from animals to avoid damaging the wires.
• Do not use a wet product.
• Do not leave unattended when switched on.
• Do not cover the sensors to avoid overheating.

• Disconnect the wires before washing.
• Wash at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.
• Do not allow more than 5 washes during use.
• Do not stick metal objects (sewing needles) into the fabric.
• Dry flat on a string or bar without kinking.
• Watch the safety of all electrical elements of the product.