After Ofgem’s new price cap came into effect this week, energy bills are reportedly set to increase by nearly £150 for the average household.
With this in mind, consumers are on the hunt for cost-effective methods to stay warm this winter without resorting to cranking up the heating.
Silentnight’s Heat Genie Self-Heating Giant Blanket is a perfect and affordable alternative to an electric blanket as after the initial £37.99 outlay, it doesn’t cost a penny to operate, Devon Live reports.
Described as ‘comfortable and cosy’, the blanket boasts a heat reflecting foil layer that bounces your body heat back onto you, providing an additional layer of warmth without the need for electricity.
Available from Amazon or Sleepy People, the plush fabric exterior and sherpa fleece interior ensure you won’t feel the foiled layer and with its generous dimensions of 180cm x 240cm, it’s large enough for more than one person to snuggle under.
Ideal for snuggling up on the couch, keeping warm in bed during cold nights, or draping over your lap if you’re working from home, the Silentnight blanket is fully machine washable, ensuring it stays fresh throughout the season. This feature is particularly handy if you have a household with children or pets.
The blanket, which is only stocked in a dark grey shade, will complement a variety of interiors, whether draped over sofas or beds. Enthusiastic buyers have labelled it ‘warm, cosy and worth the price’.
As one satisfied customer put it: “The blanket is good quality, instructions say wash before use and it looks good on my bed. It is comfortable warm to sleep in with nothing else on the bed, as the weather gets colder I may have to put additional sheets on but for now all is good.”
Another shopper enthused: “Brilliant. I find the plug in blankets too much and a bit heavy. This is huge, but light and so cosy. Keeps you warm but not overheated. I bought one for my mum as well as she was worried about leaving blankets plugged in and tripping over leads.
“She absolutely loves this blanket and finds it much more cosy and cuddly than the others I have bought for her in the past.”
While the triple-layer design is engineered to hold in warmth, it does not offer the variable temperature control found in electric blankets. For instance, a comparably sized Silentnight Electric Blanket retailed at £41.99 on Amazon offers three adjustable heat levels through a sliding dial and heats up more rapidly than its non-electric counterpart.
Alternatively, Silentnight’s Heat Genie Self-Heating Mattress Topper is available for £37.99 for a double size at Boots. Functioning similarly to the self-heating blanket, customers have praised it for ‘keeping you warm as toast all night’ and being ‘easy to fit’ on the bed.
Another option could be donning a blanket hoodie – Oodie has slashed prices on several of their original styles by £20 in a quick sale before the autumn cold sets in. You can shop the collection here.
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