As we begin to edge closer to the colder seasons here in the northern hemisphere, it has got me wondering about how you keep yourselves warm on your sits? I’m someone who tends to really feel the cold a lot so I always travel with a hot-water bottle, even in Summer. I know that makes me sound very uncool!
I’ve been hearing great things about heated-blankets and am wondering whether to get one of those. Apparently, they only cost 3p an hour to run so brilliant for those of us who are frugal Dougals!
Has anybody got one and are they all they’re cracked up to be?
Oh my goodness, I live in mine! I am a Scot, and very much feel the cold too, so would recommend getting a heated blanket. They are truly amazing and, as a solo sitter, it means I don’t have to heat a whole house, I can remain in my cocoon of warmth without elevating the HO’s bills (I have previously done a cost test vs. central heating with a HO’s smart meter and yes, the difference was tangible).
My only caveat would be that some are better than others. I’ve had blankets that barely heat up or that break within weeks. My personal favourite is the Dreamland brand, but not sure if they produce outside the UK.
I feel the cold all year round too, and travel with a fleece hat and a cuddly oversized dressing gown. Not much of a look, but im warm! However, I am seriously tempted by these electric blankets.
Thank you so much for this reply. This is really helpful. I too am based in Scotland and as much as I love this beautiful country, I do really struggle in the Winter and like you, I’m conscious of energy prices and would rather not add to the HOs utility costs too much.
One lovely lady I sat for in North Berwick invited me for a meal at her place and it was lovely to see her and dogs again. This was in July and we sat there chatting away with the fire on as it was THAT chilly even in mid-Summer!
Anyway, I was amazed at how economical a heated blanket is to run. I would imagine I’d probably never be out of it until about April next year if I got one!
I’d just have to remember that it’s plugged into the wall before I went off wandering around the house!
I can highly recommend putting a woolen blanket under the bedsheet. It has to be wool. Wool will regulate the temperature and not be to hot and humid like man-made fibres. Or wool in general. My dog loves sleeping on a sheepskin.
I’ve definitely got to the age and stage where how I look comes so secondary to staying warm. Even with thermals on, I still feel chilly so it’s good to know different ways people are staying warm without breaking anyone’s bank!
Oh yes, I am well acquainted with winter in July I actually spent the summer in Scotland and, upon travelling to my current sit in NW England, was told they had a scorcher of a summer. I didn’t experience anything of the sort!
If you are based in Scotland, I would highly recommend getting a heated blanket. They have been such a saviour for me, and very economical. Sometimes it’s natural to forget they are on, but many have an automatic shut off feature, so they don’t stay on for too long if you wander around the house!
I had one house sit last winter where the heating was set to come on for at least 5 hours a day. I scrapped the entire schedule and just had my blanket on, only very occasionally putting the heating on for an hour. I can’t imagine how much this must have saved the HOs.
That’s a great idea and not too far away. Appreciate this and I like your brand recommendation. I’ve had really good experiences with Dreamland’s electric blankets so I’m definitely going to look into this.
I’ll be having a winter for the first time in many many years and I’m thinking of buying an electric blanket. I can keep the room i’m in at a tolerable temp for me and kitteh but still be warmer. and I like to sleep cold at night so I wouldn’t use it then but from experience, turning it on before I get out of bed for my morning bathroom trip makes getting into a nice warm bed sooooo nice. lol
FWIW, I live in a van with no heat and I regularly sleep down to low single digits in it and sleeping between two fuzzy blankets makes all the difference. I can stay cozy warm all night when I sleep in a fuzzy blanket sandwich with a duvet on top.
You will have saved them SO much money, without a doubt. What you’ve said has actually made me determined to get one now as being cold is just miserable. I just spent the last two weeks in Cambridge where it was warm and sunny and I’m already feeling that chill now that I’m just back north of the border! Trying to get myself prepared before the temperatures really drop.
Apparently, these heated blankets are washable even with the wires inside? Is that the case with yours? Amazing if so!
My guess is we’re in for a bitterly cold winter! Yes, they are washable! Only at 30 degrees though, and they can’t be put in a tumble drier. In fact, that’s another thing to consider. There are some that, after washing, the wires become a bit out of alignment somehow. Again, the Dreamland ones wash well. I have one from Lakeland just now and it’s also lovely, wires are almost invisible (but doesn’t get quite as scorching as the Dreamland!)
I can already tell I’m going to become a total convert to heated blankets. You’ve really convinced me as I found last Winter not the easiest and it seemed to go on forever.
I’ve got a six week sit in East Lothian over January and February next year so this will be perfect for keeping the HO’s bills pretty low and keeping me comfortably warm.
Makes sense to wash them on a lower temperature and definitely not to spin dry. This could well be one of those items I end up getting and wondering why on earth I didn’t get one years ago!
I really hope you benefit from it. I was at a house sit where it was so cold, you could see your breath in the air, indoors. The HO limited the heating too, so I sat with my coat and gloves on most of the time. My electric blanket was a lifesaver.
In saying that, East Lothian in Jan/ Feb sounds amazing! I did a sit in East Linton/ Haddington a couple of years ago - it’s such a beautiful area. Hopefully getting a blanket will make it even more enjoyable!
That must’ve been pretty miserable. You know it’s really bad when you can see your own breath! That’s next level cold!
I’ve also had woolly hats on in the house on occasion along with my hot water bottle. I’m making myself sound ancient here but I actually looked like Nora Batty from Last of the Summer Wine!
I’ve only started exploring East Lothian in the last year and I had no idea it was this beautiful. I only went to North Berwick for the first time last year and I loved it. Funny how some of the nicest places can sometimes be in our own backyard!
I know this HO has a big costly overseas trip planned for a family wedding so knowing I can take a heated throw with me will ease so much stress all round. What a fabulous invention these heated blankets are!
My dog loves sleeping on a sheepskin.
I actually spent the summer in Scotland and, upon travelling to my current sit in NW England, was told they had a scorcher of a summer. I didn’t experience anything of the sort!
Trying to get myself prepared before the temperatures really drop.
