Biddeford calls their MicroPlush Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket “perfect to snuggle up in when the weather gets cold,” but instead of just taking their word for it, we wanted to weigh in. While even-heating tops of the list of importance when looking for a heated blanket, we also wanted to see if the blanket was also soft and cozy during a long New England winter. We also put it through a washing test to see if it could withstand some normal wear and tear. Read on to see what we found.
Material: Soft but sensitive to washing
Although the Biddeford heated blanket is 100% polyester, it combines two different fabric finishes: microplush and sherpa. When we heard the word “microplush,” we envisioned a cloud-like material you would want to sink into. We were sorely disappointed. At first, we thought maybe our expectations were too high, but after a couple of nights of sleeping with the heated blanket, we realized that it had nothing to do with our expectations. The “microplush” top fabric is rough and scratchy with a texture that’s uncomfortable and uninviting. On the other hand, the sherpa side is soft and inviting right out of the bag, but it’s sensitive to washing and the friction from tossing and turning under the covers. After a few nights of sleeping with it and one toss in the washer and dryer, we noticed that it started to develop some pilling and lost some of its softness. The degradation of this type of sherpa fabric is inevitable and doesn’t necessarily speak to the quality of the blanket itself but negatively affects the blanket’s aesthetic over time. It’s not a huge deal if you’re using the blanket on your bed since the sherpa portion lies face down, but if you want to use this blanket as a throw in the living room, it’s something to consider.
Design and Comfort: Control plugs awkwardly placed
After setting up the blanket and properly positioning it on the bed, we were surprised by the control plugs’ awkward placing. The plugs are placed at the bottom of the blanket, where they’re highly visible. If you flip the blanket around, the plugs are where you would likely rest your arms while you’re sleeping. The cord is long, so it can easily reach the bed’s head, but we had to string the cords under the bed, and it looked messy and unkempt. The heating wires are also extremely prominent. You can feel them through the fabric, which is slightly off-putting but is common with heated blankets. The heating wires are really stiff and affect the blanket’s flow and comfort. Instead of hugging the body and moving around effortlessly, the wires bent and folded and made the blanket feel stiff and awkward. Washing made the blanket feel a little less stiff by breaking in the wires a bit, but since some of the sherpa’s softness and newness was lost, it was a win-lose situation.
Features: Dual controls for individualized comfort
One of our favorite features of the Biddeford Heated Blanket was the dual controllers. The blanket is divided into two heating zones, and each side is controlled independently. This feature is a nice touch for couples who prefer different sleeping temperatures. The dual control feature is only available with the queen and king size blankets. The twin and full only have one remote control and temperature zone. This heated blanket has 10 heat settings from “1” to “H” (the highest) and a 10-hour shutoff feature designed for safety during nighttime sleeping. Another option is a 3-hour shut-off feature, a setting more appropriate for couch time.
Performance: Delivers high and even heat
The blanket heated up quickly. It took about five minutes until we felt the warmth throughout—and the heat was evenly distributed. It’s also powerful. Even though it doesn’t feel uncomfortably hot to the touch, the “H” setting was almost too much for us to handle when we were under the blanket. We lowered it to “5,” which seemed to be the sweet spot to keep us comfortable overnight. On an especially warm winter night, we didn’t turn the blanket on at all, and it still kept us toasty.
Washing: Washer and dryer-safe
We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the heated blanket was washer and dryer-safe after removing the digital controllers. The heating wires are protected within the blanket’s fabric. We had no trouble fitting the 90-inch x 100-inch king-size blanket in our top-load washing machine (with no agitator). It took up the washer’s entire capacity. If you have a small washing machine or one that has an agitator, a blanket this size may require a trip to the laundromat. Like any large blanket, drying took about 60 minutes. The blanket came out of the dryer in decent condition. The sherpa fabric lost some of its newness, but the heating wires seemed to soften a bit, so that was a plus.
Price: Expensive for what you get
While it does offer even heat, we thought the $90 price tag was a little steep, especially since the wire heating elements made the blanket feel stiff and a bit uncomfortable. We’re not opposed to spending $100 on a king-size heated blanket, but if we’re shelling out that kind of cash, we’d like to see a little more thought go into the design.
Biddeford MicroPlush Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket vs. Sunbeam Quilted Fleece Blanket
Biddeford and Sunbeam are heavy hitters in the heated blanket world, and their products stack up pretty evenly against each other with some differences. Both blankets offer 10 heating seatings, a 10-hour auto shut-off safety feature, and are made of 100% polyester. The Biddeford’s polyester fabric is sherpa and microfiber, while the Sunbeam blanket has a fleece finish. Both blankets are machine washable and dryer-safe for convenient, at-home cleaning. The Sunbeam blanket retails for about $20 more than the Biddeford. The ability to control each side of the blanket independently makes the Biddeford MicroPlush Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket seem like an attractive choice for couples, but it’s rough texture and stiff heating wires will have you doing more tossing and turning than cuddling.
