How to Check Your Electric Blankets for Safety

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There's nothing more snuggly on a cold winter's night than to get into a preheated bed. An electric blanket can become an old friend over the years, but over 250 fires a year are caused by wear and/or improper use. Use this safety checklist to be sure that your electric blanket still meets safety standards.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Check the edges of the blanket for signs of wear and fraying. Make sure that no wires are exposed there. Look over the whole blanket, running your fingers over the wiring inside. No wiring should be exposed as it poses a fire threat and should be replaced.

Step2

Make sure that there are no places on the blanket where the wiring seems stiff and unable to lie flat. The wiring within the blanket should all be soft and flexible. If it's stiff it's likely to be brittle and you should replace the blanket.

Step3

Check for scorch marks--they'll be light brown to black. If you find any marks like at all, throw the blanket away.

Step4

Make sure the wiring and connections are good. The cord should be flexible and the plastic should have no cuts or wear which could expose the wiring inside. The pins on the connections should all be clean and sturdy and they shouldn't move when you touch them. Check the plug that goes into the wall for the same things.

Step5

Make sure that the controls work properly. Look at the housing to make sure it's not broken and check the cords for wear. Especially check that the unit shuts off as it should. If your blanket passed all these checkpoints, it should be good for another winter season.