Blankets & Throws Buying Guide
Blanket & Throws Buying Guide
WARMTH LEVEL
The most defining attribute to consider for a Comforter or Blanket is the Warmth Level. It’s a very personal decision to make, based on both your at home environment and personal preference. To help with this selection, we’re using formalized testing protocols to outline the exact efficiency each product has for holding heat in the sleep chamber.
Most Blankets will fall into the “Ultra Light” category, meaning they’re to be used as either a layering piece, for a small amount of additional heat or weight, or as a standalone item when the ambient temperature is almost perfect for sleeping.
While each Blanket Construction will range very slightly in its Warmth Rating, with cotton being the coolest and a filled plush blanket being the warmest, all of them will be less warm than a Light Weight Comforter as a standalone item.
COTTON
After Plush, Cotton is the most common fabric for a blanket construction. It’s both long lasting and durable while being ultra light and breathable. Typically inexpensive, there are also elevated cotton options including Organic Cotton made without the use of any chemicals and Egyptian Cotton which is known for being luxuriously soft, which make it a very versatile fiber for many types of Blankets.
PLUSH
The most common Blanket construction in the market, Plush blankets are a customer favorite. Created from synthetic polyester fiber, plush blankets tend to be extraordinarily soft and relatively inexpensive. Only slightly warmer than a cotton blanket, they can produce a lot of static electricity and are less durable. The combination of extreme softness and cheaper price point make them the category champion in Blankets.
FLEECE
While Fleece doesn’t have to be made from a specific fiber, Fleece in the marketplace tends to be overwhelmingly polyester, so we’ll focus on that material. Less thick than traditional plush or sherpa, Fleece comes in as a lighter weight, more utilitarian cousin of synthetic blankets. Typically the cheapest Blanket option, Fleece is easy to maintain and care for.
SHERPA
Similar to Plush, Sherpa blankets have seen a rise in popularity in recent years. Also created from a synthetic polyster fiber, Sherpa has a more fashion forward, almost ‘fur’ look, than traditional plush while maintaining all of the softness. The material also takes color very well, making it for a logical choice for someone looking to blend fashion and function
CHENILLE
More of a Throw Blanket quality than a traditional Bed Blanket, Chenille is the most fashion forward of the traditional blanket fabrics. With a beautifully soft hand, Chenille is knit together to create cool designs and color combinations, making it a perfect item for living rooms.
DOWN ALTERNATIVE
Down Alternative Blankets can be viewed as simply an Ultra Light Weight Comforter. Created from a shell of either polyester or cotton, this product is then filled with a small amount of down alternative fill to provide loft and warmth. Different treatments to the shell (stain removal, cooling, garment washing) make it extremely versatile. While cheaper and less insulating than down, it is hypo-allergenic and cruelty-free.
DOWN
Down is the most effective insulator and expensive of the blanket selections. Created in the same fashion as Down Alternative Blankets, Down Blankets are filled with a layer of ultra light weight down feathers to provide loft and warmth unrivaled by any of the other selections. This regulates body temperature extremely well, but will also be the most expensive of the traditional blanket options.
ELECTRIC BLANKETS – Typically made of synthetic fibers embedded with a heating element and thermostat, Electric Blankets are the warmest option available in the Blanket category. Great for the coldest times of year, Electric blankets won’t have a ‘warmth rating’ as the adjustable thermostat allows the consumer to pick their exact temperature. They will require an electrical outlet and will having some care restrictions.
WEIGHTED BLANKETS – The newest development in the blanket category, weighted blankets have become a very popular category in recent years. Their added weight puts pressure on the body that may promote a better night’s sleep and reduce anxiety. Although they don’t have a separate heating unit like Electric Blankets, they are warmer than traditional blankets due to all that weight. Most weighted blankets are ‘THROW’ blanket size and designed to be used on a couch or chair for a shorter period of time. The general guideline is to select a weighted blanket that is 10% of your body weight
Be sure to check your care label before wash and ensure that the entire blanket or throw can be washed.
Spot clean any severe stains before putting into a washing machine. Use non-chlorinated detergents.
Be sure not to overfill washers and dryers. A tip for helping achieve a better and quicker complete dry, is to add a tennis ball in the dryer with your blankets or throw blankets to help fluff them up and help prevent the item from becoming lumpy or misshapen.