Is your electric blanket safe? Maybe not, according to which?

British consumer protection organization Which? discovered unsafe electric blankets offered for sale by third-party sellers on online marketplaces including AliExpress, Amazon, eBay and Wish.

Electric blankets are an energy-saving way to keep warm. But in an attempt to save even more money, people may be tempted to buy extremely cheap electric blankets and throws. But a new warning says that not only are they of poor quality, they may also be unsafe.

“The popularity of electric blankets has skyrocketed as people seek to save money during a cost-of-living crisis, but our latest research shows that buying these products cheaply from online marketplaces can compromise your safety,” said Sue Davis, head of advocacy. consumers. wherein?

November and December 2022 Which one? tested 11 cheap electric blankets, heated blankets and shawls priced between £13 and £21 and found eight of them poorly made and some potentially dangerous. Only two inexpensive products passed all of the Which? tests.

Three of the blankets posed an electrical hazard, one had wires that could be easily pulled out, and the others were poorly made with no safety signs, clear English instructions or safety warnings.

In addition, two products will not warm you at all, since only 5% of their surface is actually heated.

Although the poor quality blankets identified by Which? have been removed from sale (meaning we cannot link to them), if you have purchased one of the following items on AliExpress, you should stop using them immediately and request a refund from the seller:

• Electric blanket, thicker heater, body warmer (£13)
• Body warmer electric blanket 220V (£21)
• 22V [sic] Electric heated sheet (£18)

Due to the lack of brands and very generic names, it can be difficult to pinpoint if you have an affected model, but if you’ve recently purchased something similar, check it out and be careful.

If you’re considering buying an electric blanket, we recommend reading our electric blanket buying guide, which has links to safe yet inexpensive products that we’ve tested and reviewed.

In the meantime, here are some quick tips for buying safely:

• Choose a reputable seller (don’t just consider the website itself)
• Check product reviews before buying (and watch out for fake reviews)
• Avoid Generic, Non-Branded Products
• Don’t try to save more by buying something suspiciously cheap.
• Look for the CE or UKCA mark. The product must also have safety information and washing instructions.
• If you are buying from the UK, please make sure the product has a standard three-prong plug and not an adapter.
• Check for loose wires and wear before use.

For some safe buying options, check out our reviews of the Glamhaus Heated Blanket, Cosi Home Electric Blanket, and Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket.