Dreamland Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket Review
Powerful and simple
Verdict
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.
Pros
- Ultra-hygenic
- Easy to fit
- Four heats
Cons
- Can make mattress firm to sleep on
- Single control
- Doesn’t cover pillow area
Key Features
- SizesVersions available for double- and king-sized beds.
- PowerSingle150W control.
- HeatThree heat settings plus an on/off switch.
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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Should you buy it?
Hygiene is high on your wishlist but you don’t have time to launder an electric blanket as often as the linen.
You’re on a budget: the Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket is one of the costlier designs yet with only one control it doesn’t deliver the dual heats that similarly priced blankets do.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an electric blanket that’s low maintenance, Dreamland’s Anti-Bacterial Heated Underblanket is probably one of the most suitable. Its control detaches easily, it can be washed and tumble dried, plus the addition of antibacterial silver means that you don’t actually need to wash it as often. However, it’s fairly pricey and a higher wattage control means it’ll cost more to run than a 60W blanket, for example. In addition, a single control doesn’t give much choice over the temperature for two sleepers: for this, you’ll need a dual control blanket such as Silentnight’s Yours & Mine or something else from our list of the best electric blankets.
How we test
Unlike other sites, we test every heated blanket we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
Used as our main heated blanket for the review period
We record how much power the blanket will use on maximum.
We see how evenly the blanket is heated and if there are cold spots.
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FAQs
This model is available in sizes for double and king-size beds.
It has one control, so both sleepers will have to agree on a temperature.
Full specs
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.