The electric blanket has to be one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. I know that there are still some people that absolutely love the idea of downy comforters and handmade quilts on their beds. Of course, they look wonderful and can add a beautiful decorating touch to every bedroom. However, for sleeping comfort, nothing beats an electric blanket.

Would you believe that the electric blanket came into popular use as a medical device? Patients suffering from tuberculosis needed plenty of fresh air prompting doctors to recommend that they sleep with the windows open. Unfortunately, that was too cold for patients in delicate condition. Although the first electric blanket had been invented some years earlier, using them in tuberculosis sanitariums forced designers to make them safer. As a result, the public thought that this might be a better way to stay warm at night without all the extra weight of several heavy blankets. The rest is history.

The first were simply plugged in and turned on, with heat constantly being generated. Improvements followed rapidly and the first thermostatically controlled unit came out in 1936. The electric blanket would check the room temperature and as the temperature fell, the blanket would turn itself on to keep the sleeper warm. Now your blanket could keep itself at a temperature that was comfortable all night long.

Of course, there was some public concern about the safety of using an electric blanket. I can even remember as a child, that when we bought one for each of the family, some friends thought they were still dangerous. In fact, properly maintained, an electric blanket is one of the safest electrical appliances in the house. All you have to do is follow the rules. Do not use your electric blanket when it is wet and make sure it is handled and washed properly to avoid breaking the wires inside the blanket fabric.

Over the last decades, the blanket has become much more sophisticated. Now they not only monitor the temperature in the room around you, but also check your own body temperature to make sure you are always warm and cozy. Other designs can give more heat to your cold feet while maintaining a cooler temperature for your upper body.  

Of course, your electric blanket is now designed to provide beauty as well as comfort, coming in a variety of colors and designs. No longer do you need Grandma’s quilt to make your bed look beautiful

Electric blankets are now even available for your car. There are models that are powered by an attachment that allows you to use it from the lighter in your car. That way you can be warm and sleep while other passengers can be cool and comfortable at the same time.