Sleeping on memory foam is cushy and comfortable, and electric blankets make your bed so much cozier. But you might be wondering, can you have both at the same time?
Yes, you can put an electric blanket on memory foam. It’s perfectly safe and will not damage most memory foam mattresses or mattress toppers, as long as you take some basic common-sense precautions. Just as with any mattress, it’s best to put the heated blanket on top of your other bedding.
Read on for more information about the safety of heated blankets on memory foam mattresses and mattress pads. Learn why your electric blanket should be placed on top of your bedding and what basic rules to follow to use your electric blanket with your memory foam mattress safely.
Electric Blankets Are Safe on Memory Foam Mattresses
An electric blanket is not a fire hazard simply because it’s on top of memory foam. Memory foam mattresses are treated with flame retardants, just like other mattresses. This means that a heated blanket is just as safe to use with a memory foam mattress as it is with any other mattress.
Some people worry that the heat-sensitivity of memory foam means that the mattress will be overheated by an electric blanket and become damaged, or at least temporarily, become too soft for comfort.
But the truth is that the heat-sensitivity of memory foam means that you can use an electric blanket to get the bed toasty-warm with a lower temperature setting and in less time. With a memory foam mattress, there isn’t any need to use high temperature or long heating time that might cause damage or decreased support.
And there’s a bonus to the combination of memory foam and electric blanket that you don’t get with traditional mattresses: memory foam is great at storing the heat from the electric blanket, keeping you nice and warm long after you turn the blanket off.
One thing to be aware of is that few manufacturers of memory foam mattresses say that electric blankets can damage specific products. So it’s best to double-check your manufacturer’s website to be sure that your mattress isn’t one of these before adding an electric blanket.
Interested in a new electric blanket to use with your memory foam mattress? Here are some terrific options to consider:
- Vipex Heated Blanket: This plush blanket has 10 heating levels to choose from, and you’ll feel protected by its up-to-date safety technology.
- Sunbeam Heated Blanket: Not only does this soft and safe blanket have 10 heat settings, but it’s also beautifully styled and comes in a variety of subtle hues.
- Pure Enrichment PureRelief Radiance Deluxe Heated Blanket: This blanket’s micromink fabric will swaddle you in velvety luxury, and it comes with a 5-year warranty, too!
Electric Blankets Are Safe on Memory Foam Mattress Toppers
Memory foam mattress toppers go on top of your standard mattress to make it more comfortable. Heated blankets are also perfectly safe to use on memory foam mattress toppers.
Sometimes people confuse the lower-quality egg-crate style mattress toppers, also called convoluted foam, with genuine memory foam. This confusion can lead to a misunderstanding about fire risk. The egg-crate style toppers can catch fire when used with an electric blanket, but real memory foam is safe with heated blankets.
Interested in adding a memory foam topper to your mattress? Have a look at these great choices:
- Abakan Luxury 3-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper: This comfortable and supportive mattress topper has a ventilated design to prevent overheating and comes with its own bamboo viscose cover.
- BedStory 3 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper: Cooling gel and a ventilated design prevent heat buildup in this mattress topper, and it’s infused with charcoal to prevent odors from building up, as well.
- Advanced Sleep Solutions Memory Foam Mattress Topper: This affordable USA-made mattress topper incorporates gel technology and an open-cell foam to keep the mattress cool in hot weather. It comes with a 3-year warranty.
Placing Your Electric Blanket: Over or Under Your Memory Foam Mattress?
The best placement for an electric blanket used with a memory foam mattress is on top of your other bedding. You’ll want at least a sheet between the electric blanket and your mattress or topper, and if you’re especially sensitive to heat yourself, you may want a second blanket between the sheet and your heated blanket.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on November 6, 2020.
It is possible to place an electric blanket underneath a memory foam mattress or between a standard mattress and a memory foam topper. However, there are many reasons to avoid this.
- Heating from underneath requires heating until the entire mattress is warm. If you heat from above, you can turn your blanket on at a lower temperature for less time.
- The more heat applied to the memory foam, the softer and less supportive the memory foam will become. Your body heat gently softens the foam wherever you’re touching it. This is what creates the feeling of being cradled in the mattress. If the whole mattress gets very warm, it will soften all over and not be very supportive.
- The wires in electric blankets are subject to wear from stress. Over time, a heated blanket can develop hot spots where wires are damaged. When your blanket is sandwiched underneath a mattress topper or underneath the mattress itself, it is much more difficult to check regularly for the development of hot spots.
- A heated blanket is an electrical appliance like a toaster or a blow dryer. You wouldn’t leave a running blow dryer underneath your mattress because you’d very rightly worry that trapped heat might start a fire. This is true for electric blankets, as well, whether you’re using them with a traditional mattress or a memory foam mattress.
Electric Blanket Safety
It’s true that electric blankets can be dangerous or cause damage if misused. To protect yourself and your memory foam mattress, follow these precautions:
- Place a sheet between the blanket and the mattress.
- Turn on the blanket to heat the bed, and then turn it off before you go to sleep.
- Don’t leave the blanket on for more than 30 minutes; longer heat exposure risks overheating the memory foam and making it uncomfortable to sleep on.
- Periodically run your hand over the entire surface of the blanket while it’s on its highest setting. If there are any spots that are much hotter than the rest of the blanket, turn it off and don’t use it.
- Never iron or dry-clean an electric blanket. If you need to clean your heated blanket, wash it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- Keep the cord free of places where it could be pinched or crimped. These can cause fraying of wires that could eventually lead to a fire.
- Lay the blanket flat whenever possible; if you must store it, it’s a good idea to store it rolled so that there is as little stress on the wires as possible.
Don’t miss this fun reminder about electric blanket safety from New Zealand’s Claude the Safety Cat:
Final Thoughts
Electric blankets can safely be used with memory foam, whether in a mattress or a mattress topper. Because memory foam is treated with flame retardant, it is as flame-resistant as any other mattress.
Memory foam won’t be damaged or made uncomfortably soft as long as you limit the temperature and heating time of your electric blanket, which is easy to do because memory foam warms easily and stores heat well.
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on November 6, 2020.
As long as you follow the safety guidelines, your electric blanket should be safely keeping you warm for many years to come. These include placing the heated blanket on top of your other bedding, not running it for more than 30 minutes at a time, making sure that it’s off before you fall asleep, and checking it regularly for hot spots.