If you’ve ever lived in a cold climate, you’ll know that sometimes you need something extra to heat things in bed, other than what the radiator can provide you. An electric heating pad/blanket is the most popular solution to keep you warm, but it poses a dilemma for those who have to use a mattress protector.
Mattresses, protectors and electric blankets are useful additions to any bedroom. While a mattress encasement provides insulation from spills, dirt, and debris, an electric blanket can provide heat during cold winter nights. For cold region residents who rely upon electric blankets to go through winter unscathed, the debate over whether they can integrate these bedding products into their bedrooms has lingered for a long time.
That’s why, in today’s guide, we’ll finally answer: Can you use a mattress protector with an electric blanket? Where should you place it? And will performance be affected?
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Can you use a mattress protector with an electric blanket?
The short answer to this question is yes. Modern electric blankets are designed with safety features, eliminating any chance of a fire starting because of overheating caused by an added layer of fabric. As this concern worries you most, you should, at the very least, know if you can combine an encasement cover and an electric pad or blanket.
There is still an existing fire risk with older electric blankets, which lack an auto-shutoff feature that protects you in case of overheating.
You can verify whether your purchase comes with this feature by carefully reading the manual that comes with it. After you’ve figured that out comes the hard question of whether you should place your blanket above or below your mattress protector.
Should you place an electric blanket above or below a mattress protector?
Regarding placement, the problem is whether the protective layer above it will reduce the heat from the blanket. You may want to place your heating pad on top if it is.
However, the blanket won’t be protected from moisture and other bodily fluids. The good news is that modern electric blankets are much safer than they were a couple of years ago. But even then, do you want to lie on top of an electrical device connected to your electricity supply that can get wet, even on accident?
Electric blanket above
This approach is suited to individuals who are more intent on warming their bed than being concerned about being protected against stains and spills.
If you want to keep your heating blanket on top of your protector, remember that this will expose it to all those harmful agents that the protector intended to guard against. Understand that fluids may pose a hazard if the wiring inside the blanket has been frayed at some point.
Truthfully, you should choose a mattress protector that won’t affect the heat that passes through, or at least not in a way you would notice. Anything thick or quilted will seriously affect the amount of heat coming through, meaning you’ll need a relatively thin product.
Electric blanket below
Overall, this viewpoint makes sense when your main priority is to protect your bed against spills, allergens and other similar threats. However, this is safer if you know how to pick and choose your purchases.
When you put a cover over your electronic blanket, it can still do its intended job of safeguarding your bed against these threats while protecting the blanket itself.
Many protectors have thick underlying plastic membranes which keep fluids from reaching your mattress. That can pose a risk of trapping heat if your chosen cover isn’t breathable, as the heat can build up under it.
If that’s the case and the cover isn’t breathable, get an electric blanket with an automatic shut-off feature, accumulating beyond a certain temperature threshold.
Will a waterproof mattress protector affect an electric blanket’s performance?
If you choose the right waterproof mattress protector, the answer is no, but you must understand the difference between right and wrong options.
For example, a waterproof choice that is also quilted will reduce the heat coming through. It would help to have a mattress encasement with a thin, breathable waterproof membrane. To sum it up, it won’t melt down as long as you stay away from anything that uses PVC because it is too thick and not very breathable.
Final Words
As far as putting a cover over a blanket goes, you have your answer with a simple yes. However, now you know that there is more to it.
First, you should decide what your priorities are. Is heating the bed or protecting it against fluids and allergens more important? Next, you might want to read the product details of both products to become fully aware of their functionality.
For example, it’s necessary to check if the heated blanket has an auto-shutoff and if the encasement offers breathability and protection. You can choose the most beneficial arrangement for yourself by using the answers to these questions.
We hope we answered the how and why when it comes down to ‘Can you use a mattress protector with an electric blanket?’ Now it’s our turn to hear from you if any questions regarding the subject were left unanswered. We would gladly hear about it in the comments below if you want to share some information.