Can an Electric Blanket Be Used on an Air Mattress?

Air mattresses and electric blankets are staples for camping, sleeping in hotels, and so on. However, using an electric blanket on certain types of mattresses can cause them to melt. If you’re thinking about using an air mattress with your electric blanket, make sure you know what to look for.

An electric blanket can be used on an air mattress for twenty minutes at a time. Avoid using a heated blanket at its highest temperature when sleeping on an air bed. The mattress’s plastic or vinyl material can melt from excessive overheating from the electric blanket.

Using electric blankets on various materials can cause melting, burning, overheating, and more. The good news is that we’ll soon break down everything you need to know about safely using electric blankets on air mattresses, as well as what mattresses you should avoid using these blankets on.

How to Use an Electric Blanket on an Air Mattress

To use an electric blanket on an air mattress, try this method:

1. Put a bed sheet over the air mattress to prevent the heated blanket from touching the plastic, vinyl, or suede surface. Melting plastic is the biggest issue you’ll face when using an electric blanket on an air bed. Put a thin sheet or blanket underneath to limit direct contact.
2. Keep the heated blanket on its lowest setting, so it doesn’t get too hot for the air bed. Air beds are susceptible to burn marks from electric blankets and other heat sources. Start the blanket on its lowest setting for a few uses, then go up a notch if you don’t notice signs of damage.
3. Spread the blanket over the air mattress, then plug it in. Never heat the blanket and lay it directly on the cold plastic. The massive temperature difference can cause the air mattress to burn, melt, or become brittle at its seams.

I suggest using an air mattress that has a suede cover, too. Plastic toppers can melt, causing all sorts of unwanted issues with your electric blanket. It can take up to 30 minutes to heat an electric blanket. Keep the blanket off of the mattress until it’s fairly warm.

Possible Issues with Using a Heated Blanket on an Air Bed

Heated blankets aren’t designed specifically for air beds, which means they’ll inevitably run into a few issues. For example, hot blankets can melt the plastic on low-quality air mattresses. Furthermore, it can cause the thermal fuses to blow from overheating.

Let’s examine these problems below.

• Extremely hot electric blankets can melt low-end air mattresses. Make sure you have a decent mattress before using any electric blanket. Furthermore, it’s best to avoid using heated blankets that are older than ten years.
• The blanket’s heating wires can overheat and trip the thermal fuses. Most electric blankets have thermal fuses in their controllers and wall outlet cables. If they get too hot, they’ll blow the fuse. You won’t be able to use the blanket until you reset or replace the fuse.
• Your electric blanket might not last as long. Overheating fuses often lead to worn parts. Burn marks from melted plastic on the air mattress can ruin your electric blanket long before its warranty period is over. Unfortunately, most manufacturers don’t cover these replacements because they’re due to user error.

What Mattresses Can You Use an Electric Blanket With?

The mattresses that you can use with an electric blanket include memory foam mattresses, spring mattresses, futons, and some air mattresses. Coil mattresses can get quite hot if the coils are too close to the surface under the electric blanket. Always put a sheet beneath the heated covers.

Here’s a list of tips to consider when using a heated blanket on various mattresses:

• Avoid using an electric blanket on a plastic mattress cover. Plastic mattress covers are designed to prevent pet hair, urine, and other contaminants from staining the mattress. However, these covers can melt if you put a heated blanket on top of them. They’ll cause permanent damage to the bed.
• Heated blankets can damage most gel mattresses. Gel mattresses can melt, much like plastic mattress covers. That being said, it heavily depends on how much foam is used in the gel mattress. For instance, most gel-foam mattress toppers are perfectly fine when used with heated blankets.
• Make sure you have the correct mattress size for the bed frame and electric blanket. Bed frames aren’t universal, which means the electric blanket can hang off the side and damage the frame. The blanket shouldn’t be the same size as most bed blankets. Instead, it should only be big enough to cover the top of the bed, not the sides.

Real Homes claims you can use an electric blanket with almost any memory foam bed. It’s best to stay away from using old electric blankets or any heated fabric on a worn, crumbling foam mattress. You’ll end up ruining the bed and the blanket.

Can You Use an Electric Blanket on a Waterbed?

You can’t use an electric blanket on a waterbed because it’ll melt the plastic, cause leaks, and overheat the water. Laying on a heated waterbed under an electric blanket can cause severe burns and discomfort. Excess moisture from the bed can short-circuit the heated blanket, too.

According to NPI Web, you can’t use heated blankets on water mattresses under any circumstances. It’s not worth the potential electrical risks, burns, and damage to the blanket and bed.

Electric blankets can be fire hazards if they’re used on gel beds, waterbeds, and heated mattresses. I highly recommend never using heated blankets on other heated bedding. Choose which one fits your comfort zone for the best results.

Water beds can be quite comfortable, but they shouldn’t be heated. If you feel cold on your water bed, bundle up with a bunch of warm blankets and pillows.

You can also keep a space heater in the room if you want to stay warm without harming the waterbed. Keep the space heater at least five feet away to keep it from drying your skin.