Dreamland Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket

While Dreamland’s Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket is washable, its antimicrobial properties are sure to add extra peace of mind: especially if it’s not convenient to launder it on a regular basis. However, it’s the fast heat-up that may make it extra appealing – great for those who often forget to turn an electric blanket on in good time before turning in. The only real downside I found was its tendency to make the mattress quite firm, which can take some adjustment. 

Introduction

While many electric blankets are washable, realistically, it can be a chore to launder one on a regular basis: you’ll need a washing machine that’s big enough and time and space for it to air dry, or a tumble dryer where suitable. This is where Dreamland’s Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket comes in.

It’s made from microfleece polyester fabric enriched with silver, so there’s no need for cleaning quite as often. Plus, it has plenty of power to warm up quickly. Available as king size (the size on test), single and double, the control for each blanket is 150W, meaning that running it at maximum for an hour (based on a 34p per kWh), will cost around 5p.

Design and features

• Elasticated straps
• Wider choice of heat settings
• Single control

There’s just one control for the Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket, so both bed occupants need to enjoy the same level of warmth. Fortunately, there’s a good deal of flexibility and there are four temperatures to choose from rather than the average three. Two buttons control the blanket: one for on and off, with the other for cycling through the levels, shown on the LED display.

There’s no timer, however, so you’ll need to remember to switch it off, or it has a nine-hour auto shut-off. The top heat, 4, is best for pre-heating, while it’s suitable to stay on 1 or 2 all night long. It also has a temperature monitoring feature that consistently checks to make sure it’s not overheating.

The king-size measures 150 x 144cm: comfortably covering the average dimensions of a mattress apart from the pillow area (4ft 11in x 6ft 6in or 150 x 200cm). Elasticated straps fit it securely to the mattress – there are two corner straps at the bottom, with one long elasticated strap towards the top that loops underneath – as it’s not large enough to reach the top corners. Another plus is that it’s machine-washable at 30°C and tumble dryer-safe thanks to the detachable control, and comes in a reusable zipped storage bag. There’s also a three-year guarantee.

Performance

• Easy to fit and remove
• Fast heat up
• Can be inflexible

Dreamland’s Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket is pleasantly easy to fit – not only does it only have three elasticated straps to contend with, but they also help the blanket to fit securely to the mattress.

However, the blanket itself is quite rigid compared to some – I found it made my memory foam mattress firm, and less comfortable, to sleep on. However, the size of the blanket was good – I didn’t feel any cold spots other than around the pillow area. On average, it took about 10 minutes to heat up – longer than the maker’s estimated five-minute heat up, but this may be because memory foam tends to be cooler to the touch. 

One feature I did appreciate was the detachable control. Rather than the clip attachment that most affordable blankets have, the Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket has two lugs that are pressed to release the control in one movement. This meant no struggle to detach or re-attach for washing.

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