Heated Mattress Pads

A cool way to stay warm

Many would argue that there's nothing quite as uncomfortable as shivering in your own bed. Cold winter months can bring a chill to bedrooms in many parts of the country, and even the cold blast of air conditioners can be too much in the summer season. To guarantee a warm and comfortable night's sleep, a heated mattress pad can work miracles.

What is a heated mattress pad?

A heated mattress pad is placed above your mattress and underneath your sheets, just like a traditional mattress pad. The big difference is that unlike a regular mattress pad, a heated mattress pad actually generates warmth while you're in bed.

Heated mattress pads work similar to electric blankets. Inside the pad is a pattern of wires or other heating agent that radiates warmth. Most heated mattress pads feature an on/off switch that lets you control usage. Some models have the ability to offer varying degrees of heat as selected by the user. These heat settings are particularly useful for people who are picky when it comes to sleeping temperature. They are also useful for people who live in areas of the country where the temperature changes frequently.

Types of heated mattress pads

Just like regular mattress pads, heated mattress pads are available in most bed sizes, such as Full, Queen, and King. However, not all pads generate heat over the entire surface area. While most heated mattress pads provide heat from head to toe, some models only radiate heat in the torso or torso-to-head areas.

There are many different features offered with heated mattress pads, depending on the model. When shopping for a heated mattress pad, it's a good idea to consider which features are important to you, and which features you can do without.

Following are just a few of the most common features offered with heated mattress pads:

Many mattress pads are made with hypoallergenic materials, so you can rest easy without worrying about sneezing and irritation.

Varying temperature settings are important to people who prefer to have control over the precise heat of their mattress pad. Some models offer as many as 10 or more heat settings.

For safety reasons, the majority of heated mattress pads will include an auto-off feature, which is usually around 10 hours. This is an important feature to look for.

Obviously comfort is a big factor with any mattress pad. Be sure to notice what the thread count is of the pad, and how much padding it provides.

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