Which? and Electrical Safety First have warned customers to be extra wary of heated blankets and similar products bought online (Picture: Getty)
Vast numbers of electric blankets sold on four of the biggest online marketplaces fail to meet basic UK safety standards, new research suggests.
People have flocked toward bargain hunting websites for heated sheets, body warmers, throws and shawls in hope of reducing their central heating usage amid soaring energy bills.
But two organisations have warned online shoppers are at risk from dodgy or downright ‘dangerous’ products, some of which could cause electric shocks.
Consumer group Which? tested 11 electric blankets, throws and shawls bought on Amazon, eBay, Wish and AliExpress from third-party sellers.
Nine of them were so poorly made or labelled that they don’t meet safety regulations that products need to meet to be sold legally in the UK.
Seven failed Which?’s build quality tests due to issues such as electric wires that could be pulled out with little force, or wiring covered in sealant instead of electrical tubing.
Besides safety issues, many items were found to have abysmal electrical efficiency or such small heating elements that they would fail to keep most people warm.
Three items, all sold on Chinese retailer AliExpress for between £13 and 21, posed a risk of electrocution because of plug adapters which were ‘designed so badly that you risk a shock simply by plugging it in’.
Heated blankets have soared in popularity due to the crunch in heating costs (Picture: Getty)
Nine of the products did not have markings certifying that they meet UK or European safety standards.
Meanwhile, the charity Electrical Safety First found several ‘highly dangerous’ electrical products for sale on the same platforms as well as Facebook marketplace.
Which? said the risky products were removed after it flagged them with the online marketplaces, which all claimed they are proactively trying to comply with safety standards.
Both watchdogs are calling for tougher regulation to make platforms more accountable for the products sold on their sites.
Joshua Drew of Electrical Safety First told Metro.co.uk: ‘Online marketplaces such as Amazon Marketplace and eBay currently operate outside of the law that high street retailers are subject to.
‘This means they have no responsibility for the sale of unsafe goods on their platform and have no legal obligation to inform consumers who have bought a potentially lethal electrical item.’
The charity is calling for new laws to force web giants to ‘take reasonable steps to ensure products sold via their platforms are safe’.
How can I make sure my electric blanket is safe?
In the past, consumer watchdogs have urged shoppers to look out for a UKCA mark or a CE mark, which show that products comply with environmental and safety standards in the UK or EU respectively.
‘If it’s missing, alarm bells should ring,’ Which? explains. But experts believe it’s increasingly redundant in the age of web shopping.
Mr Drew explains: ‘These marks are not reliable alone to determine something is safe as unscrupulous sellers will frequently imitate this mark on their goods.
‘The best way to protect yourself when buying electric blankets is to stick to reputable high street retailers or by going directly to their online website. That way you can be confident that reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the product you are buying is safe.
‘Much of the risk when shopping online comes from overseas third party sellers via online marketplaces such as Amazon Marketplace, eBay and Wish’.
The dodgy products were all sold by third party sellers on popular online marketplaces (Picture: Getty)
Electrical Safety First also warns against buy second-hand blankets at all as they may no longer meet safety standards.
Once you’ve bought a safe blanket, it’s crucial to use and maintain it safely. Here are some more tips from the charity on how to do so:
Check it for visible signs of damage as soon as you open it and keep checking it regularly over time.
Only use it for the purpose it’s labelled for, e.g. only putting an ‘over-blanket’ on top of you or an ‘under-blanket’ beneath you.
Regularly check the fuse in the plug in case it needs replacing.
Never fold the blanket while it’s on, or use pins to hold it in place
Never touch it with wet hands or feet, or use a hot water bottle with it at the same time.
Replace the blanket if: the fabric is frayed, shows scorch marks, has wires poking through, makes a buzzing sound when on, gives off a smell when on, or is more than 10 years old.
When storing an electric blanket don’t place heavy items on top of it or use anti-moth chemicals on it.
A full guide on safety tips for electric blanket shopping and maintenance is available on the charity’s website here.
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Which? and Electrical Safety First both found safety flaws in several heated blankets sold on Amazon, eBay, Wish and AliExpress.
