As the cold weather starts to bite, thoughts turn to when we’re going to crack and put the heating on for the first time. There are dual controls, which means you can govern the temperature on your side of the bed without interference from co-sleepers. Additionally, while the blanket does deliver a range of heat, we were expecting more of a difference between the lowest and highest settings. Testing was done with a couple who are famously hard to please, and like different temperatures to sleep. If it’s ok to be put in a machine, avoid using a full cycle like you would with the rest of your laundry.

We found that if we wanted it on overnight, we were quite glad it switched itself off so we didn’t wake up a hot, sweaty mess. Ease of use and durability were also important, as was easy care – could we machine wash them if spillages occurred?Our range of heated bedding, throws and heat pads use state of the art Intelliheat technology to create the optimum temperature for your body, ensuring you stay warm when you need it. It’s also amazing if you have a sore upper back or shoulders as the heat can relieve aches and pains.

All of our Dreamland products come with either a 2 or 3 year guarantee (see product instruction booklet for further details). While soft and cozy, it doesn’t offer the fancier features of our top pick, like separate heating zones for feet. The heat was mainly focused in a few patches on the blanket, rather than throughout, but they’ve been placed to ensure they’re at the points you’re going to be in contact with the pad. These plug into the mains more often than not (although there are some battery-operated ones) and warm you up as you lie under them.

Keep your toes toasty with this top performer for foot warmth; this heat zone reached a cosy temperature that was notably warmer than the rest of the under-blanket. When the weather is truly awful, being able to hunker down in bed with an electric blanket keeps me toasty and my propane consumption low. Lastly, if they were suitable for washing, we tested how well they cleaned and whether they shrank during the process.

Electric blankets are cosy and an absolute necessity as temperatures plummet – so we've reviewed the best electric blankets and heated blankets on the market to help you keep costs at a minimum, switch off the central heating from time to time and still stay warm in this weather. There are three LED lights which indicate which heat setting you have it on, which range from 28C to 42C. For over 50 years, we’ve worked on innovative warming technology that keeps you feeling good, no matter the weather outside your window. The stitching along its edges is outstanding: the fabric at the edges is folded over to hide the thread work.It feels quite utilitarian – the fleece feels quite felt-like, and the wires do create small bumps under the mattress. One charge of the blanket should last you between 90 minutes and three hours, depending on how high you have it whacked.