Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket review: the best budget option

Every time I talk about the best electric blanketsI’d like to let you know that I slept on it for sixteen years. It’s rare that I get the chance to elaborate on that and tell you that fourteen of those years have been spent on Silentnight electric blankets, mainly the Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket.

I was first attracted to the Silentnight Comfort Control because it is an electric blanket under the sheet. This means that the heat you feel can be strong, but is always softened by your sheets. While this is certainly a plus, the reason I continued to sleep on Silentnight’s electric blankets is that the easy operation, quick heat-up, and reasonable price tag are hard to argue with. If you want to make a nice calculation how much it costs to use an electric blanketyou want to do it with the Silent Night (it’s pennies).

So now’s my chance to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to tell you how I got my warmed-up beauty sleep on the Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket and why I’ve chosen it year after year.

Specifications

Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket with box on white background

(Image credit: Silentnight)

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Dimensions	135x120cm (double)
Dust	Polyester
Sizes available	Single, double, king, super king
Warm-up time	11 minutes
Machine washable	Yes
Suitable for the dryer	N/A

Unpacking the Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket

Silentnight Comfort Control Electric blanket on bed

(Image credit: Future)

Silentnight ships the Comfort Control Electric Blanket in a cardboard box. It is lightweight and you can easily throw away the cardboard, which is good to know. Mine was actually a bit damaged, which meant I tore the handle I used to carry it upstairs. That didn’t cause any problems, because it’s light enough to carry, rock or lift (if you want) up the stairs.

It comes with a few pieces of paper with warnings and various bits of information about the Silent Night. It’s always good to read through these, but you don’t really need them. This has elastic bands that go around the end of the bed to keep your electric blanket in place and three easy temperature settings.

Who would the Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket be suitable for?

Silentnight Yours&Mine electric blanket folded on the bed

(Image credit: Future)

As far as budget is concerned, compact electric blankets the SIlentnight Comfort Control electric blanket are the best. Why else would I have bought one sixteen years ago? The only compromise most people make with cheaper electric blankets concerns the heat settings. Normally you lose some heating power or discover cold spots in your bed, but Silentnight doesn’t miss a spot. It’s really powerful, despite the price.

The Comfort Control is perfect for people who just want a nice warm bed. It should be permanently under your sheets so that you stay warm there. You should set it an hour before bedtime to get a good, perfect amount of heat. Other options include sherpa textures or warming throws, but this style is best for use in bed.

My word of warning would be that the price means some people will make compromises. First of all, tall people. This doesn’t quite reach all four corners of the bed, so you have to slide it to the bottom and sacrifice the warmth of the pillow (which is a bit redundant anyway), but you may feel like your head and toes are a little cold become .

As a small person, this didn’t bother me, but my partner did. The other major problem I have is the controller. This is located higher on the electric blanket, on top of the mattress. So if you sleep on the edge and to the left of your bed, you will get a plastic box in your face. It’s still bearable, but not quite the luxurious experience you’d expect from an electric blanket.

How is the Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket used?

Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket Controller

(Image credit: Future)

The great thing about cheaper electric blankets is that they are easy to use. The Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket is my textbook example of this. It is held on the bed with thick, elastic bands.

From the pictures I took you can see that it doesn’t quite cover the full length of the bed. That’s why Silentnight recommends that you slide it lower on your mattress and leave the pillow part cold. This is fine for shorter people, but tall people may get a little cold on their feet and heads.

The disadvantage of sliding it back and forth is that you end up with a plastic connector on the left side of the bed, approximately on your shoulder or head. I don’t know about you, but I don’t find the feel of plastic very comfortable. I could still sleep, but I prefer him to sit on the side of the electric blanket so he’s not directly in my face.

Size aside, this is a great little stove. You can select three different heat settings with the controller. You don’t get an auto shut-off or smart features, but Silentnight promises to protect you from overheating.

Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket on my bed

(Image credit: Future)

Heating level one removes a cold edge from the bed, but this won’t be enough to elicit an ‘ooh’ or an ‘ah’ when you get into bed at night. The second heat setting should be turned on an hour before going to bed. You can turn it off when you get in because the bed is nice and warm to keep you cozy. And make your bedroom cozy.

Remember to set it an hour in advance, this is a skill you will improve. In my family it is a task that one person does with love for everyone, and we take turns doing it. If you are forgetful, you may need to opt for a blanket with a faster warm-up time.

Even on the super hot third setting, your bed will not be warm for at least ten minutes. Then it will quickly collapse into too hot. Handy if the heating breaks down or you are super cold, but you don’t often reach the highest setting. Trust me.

How do you clean the Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket?

Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket Plug

(Image credit: Future)

Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket is machine washable. I recommend using a gentle detergent such as Ecover detergent (or that of the brand washing capsules).

This must then air dry. You could have a heated chandelier if you need it urgently, but polyester naturally dries faster than some of the more expensive organic electric blankets. If you need help, we have a whole page available how to clean an electric blanket here.

How does the Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket work?

Quilting in Dreamland, snowed in an electric blanket made of organic cotton

(Image credit: Future)

The Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket is the best budget electric blanket you can buy. Discerning readers may have noticed that I said I’ve been sleeping on these for fourteen years and yet I’ve been using electric blankets for sixteen years. That’s because two years ago I was introduced to the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Warming Mattress Protector. It’s about double the price of the Slumberdown, but it’s easy to see why.

The Dreamland waves away all the concerns I have with the Silentnight: there is no plastic near your head, it heats the entire bed and you have your bed nice and warm in five minutes. It doesn’t stop there either.

This is made from quilted organic cotton, which is softer, really breathable and much more refreshing, especially for sensitive skin.

You also get two controllers, so each half of the bed can be at a different temperature depending on your needs. It’s certainly a luxury offering, but I’m willing to invest in it.

Should you buy the Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket?

Silentnight Yours&Mine electric blanket texture

(Image credit: Future)

If you want a cheap electric blanket that is cheap to run, heats up quickly and is easy to use, then you can’t go wrong with the Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket.

I used this on all the beds in my house for fourteen years because it did a great job for the whole family. However, after testing more premium options that cover the entire bed, keep the controllers out of my face and work even faster, I might be tempted to look at some more luxurious options as well.

How we test

Dunelm Teddy electric blanket on bed

(Image credit: Future)

Bee woman&house I make sure to personally test every electric blanket we recommend to you. That way you know I can vouch for every feature and fault in the models we recommend (or not) for warmer sleep.

I spend my days researching the best electric blankets on the market. When I see one I think you’ll like, I do a deep dive into any claims a brand makes so I know exactly what to look for and can pressure test it when it gets to my house.

When I feel like I know enough, I take it to the bedroom. I make notes about the packaging, how it holds on the bed, how well it fits, and what the controller looks like. Then I will test the heat up time for each different heat setting so you can get the correct data.

Then (this is my favorite part) I sleep on the electric blanket for months. This gives me a good impression of what it feels like in bed, the best heat settings, useful functions and problems. I will also have to clean it during this time so that you can learn everything about the electric blanket.

Then I compare it with different models on the market. At this point I’ll talk about who it’s suitable for, whether it’s a good price and what else is on the market. This way you get the feeling that you have shopped without actually having to do anything. After all, I tested them, so it makes sense to share them everything i learned about electric blankets.