There hasn’t been an immense amount of innovation in the world of electric blankets — until Dreamland came along. With Dreamland's Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector, you can have it all: dual zones of heat, organic cotton fabric; and a waterproof protector over your bed.
You'll probably recognise the name Dreamland, since they're credited with making the best electric blankets and heated throws on the market. They have every kind of heated layer for every kind of sleeper with some models to lie under your sheets, as well as over your duvet, under the duvet, as well as ones for evenings snuggled on the sofa. All of them are a great way to save money and stay warm over the winter.
Naturally, the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector is one of their most luxurious models on the market. None of Dreamland's competitors offer anything close to this, which begs the question, what's everyone else doing? And an organic cotton, warming mattress protector gimmick or genuinely good?
Specifications
Unboxing the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector
The Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector packaging is minimal, sustainable, and reusable too. Essentially, Dreamland will send your electric blanket in a zip-up storage bag, perfect for when you want to pack this away in the summer. It's certainly bigger than most other offerings out there, but the generously sized bag makes storing the blanket easy.
Unlike the felt texture of many other blankets, the Dreamland offers a sumptuous, cotton, quilted cover. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was an ordinary, but premium, plain mattress protector.
The big giveaway that this is something special is the fact that Dreamland sends two remote controls with the Snowed In. These click into place on either side of the bed and you can use them to set the temperature on your half of the bed. Even the 38 cm deep elasticated sides tuck neatly around the mattress, keeping all aspects covered too.
Who would the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector suit?
The Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector has plenty of appeal to a range of sleepers. First, the fact that it is a thin protector that goes under your sheets makes it a much more subtle (both from an aesthetic and tactile perspective) option. I've always liked this style of electric blanket, because you could leave it under your mattress all year round if you wanted to. This will still have a use in the summer, because it's designed to be a normal mattress protector as well as an electric blanket. So, if you spill tea or - God forbid - wine on the sheets, your mattress will stay safe from stains. The fact that it's also organic cotton means that this is one of the most breathable option. So, if you don't like getting sweaty, or you're sensitive to chemicals and tougher textures, this is perfect.
The dual-zones have an obvious appeal for couples. These can create really distinctive temperature differences across the bed, so if your partner doesn't want any heat and you want the Snowed In running at full pelt, you can have the best of both worlds.
Whilst all of the features on Dreamland's Snowed In Warming Mattress Protector sound appealing, there are places where you could be saving money. For example, if you already have a mattress protector, you could pick up a simple electric blanket for a tenth of the price. Similarly, not everybody needs two zones of heat. I survived for long enough without them. So, whilst this is a lovely purchase, for some, it might be too lavish.
What is the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector like to use?
The Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector is super simple to use. The controls help you to navigate between six different temperature settings. You can also choose between a 1, 3 or 9-hour auto shut-off timer so that the blanket doesn't keep running if you just happen to drift off in the warm cocoon of your cosy sheets. I'm speaking purely from experience here.
Dreamland claims that the Snowed In can get the bed warm in five minutes, which is astounding for a mattress warmer. It's great if you come in late and want to go straight to bed, because the average warm-up time is more like half an hour. To put this to the test, I set one side of the bed to maximum heat (6) and the other to minimum (1 — although you could have 0 if you wanted). After five minutes, I slid my hand between the sheet and my duvet to find that it was actually warm. It wasn't boiling hot, but it was certainly cosy. The other side had some gentle heat in it, but nothing compared to the other side. I would say that it had just taken the edge off any coolness on setting 1 and setting 6 was as cosy as being wrapped up in a blanket.
I tested plenty of other combinations over the following weeks, matching both sides to the same temperature and splitting them up too. I really liked the setting 4, because it was cosy enough to keep on for an hour, but I didn't need it for any longer than that. My partner preferred a gentle setting 2, which was warm for him without making his side of the bed as sweaty as it would be if I had my way on a full 4 across both sides.
There were other nice subtleties too. For example, the top pillow section doesn't get hot, which is a very conscious design feature from Dreamland. You'd have pillows here, so sending heat up there is a pointless task. Also, the cotton felt really nice and breathable. Lots of electric blankets get quite hot and cloying, mostly because they're made from polyester, so I really felt the shift across to cotton. It was a very welcome change.
How do you clean the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector?
The Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector is completely machine washable and tumble dryer safe. I'd recommend washing it at 40 degrees with a gentle Ecover Laundry Detergent (or the brand's laundry capsules). Then, if you want to look after the fabric, it's worth letting this air dry. You can use a heated airer to speed up the process if you want to, both methods will be much more gentle on your fabric than a tumble dryer. If you need help, we've got plenty of advice on how to clean an electric blanket over here.
How does the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector compare?
The Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector isn't the only offering from Dreamland that I'm besotted with. They have a very similar model to this one and it's probably one that you'll come across in more buying guides. Dreamland's Hunker Down Mattress Warmer has the same dual-zone technology, premium design, and neat features, but instead of putting it under your base sheet, it sits on top and you lie directly on the sherpa-fleece material. It's instantly warming and offers a much more intense heat. If you're a cold person, this is wonderful news, but if you're a hot or sweaty sleeper, you might want to stick with the organic cotton.
If you like the idea of an electric blanket and you want one to slip under your sheets, you could save money by investing in the Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Electric Blanket. This retails around £30, which is a fraction of the price of Dreamland's Snowed In. The big difference is that this only has one zone and it takes about 45 minutes to warm up. It's a much more basic option, but it's worth considering if you want to be super savvy.
Should you buy the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector?
If you want a breathable, premium electric blanket, the Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector is the one for you. It's subtle, powerful, and will save you from having to turn up the heating at home. There are cheaper options on the market, but you'll have to sacrifice on the material quality, dual-zone features, heating speed, and other subtle touches too.
How we test
I'm our dedicated expert for testing electric blankets, which means that I'm always on top of the latest releases and trends. They're really useful for lots of reasons: you can use them to stay warm; they don't cost much to run; and they're an easy way to make your house feel cosy.
I’m always on the lookout for new products that seem cozy, innovative, or functional, and once I find one, I bring it in for a hands-on test. I use each blanket for several weeks, sometimes months, to evaluate it across different aspects.
I begin by looking at the packaging. In an ideal world, all of the product and its packaging will be made from eco-friendly, recyclable materials that keep the blanket compact during shipping. Ideally, the product should be ready to use right out of the box, but if it requires any assembly or setup, I make note of that.
The next step is testing the heat settings, which I usually assess in intervals of five or two and a half minutes. If the product is wearable, like a heated throw or poncho, I’ll wear it throughout the test. For a heated mattress pad, I’ll stay in bed to properly evaluate its performance. It’s tough work, but someone’s got to do it!
I then focus on checking how evenly the heat is distributed, whether there are any cool spots, if it has areas designed for cooler pillow placement, and how energy-efficient it is. If the blanket features dual controls or separate heating zones, I ensure they work as intended, often with the help of another person.
After I’ve gotten a feel for how the blanket performs, I’ll test how easy it is to clean. Some blankets require hand-washing, others can be machine-washed, and a few can even be tumble dried. It’s important to understand the cleaning process before purchasing, especially if it could be a hassle.
Throughout my testing, I compare the blanket to others I’ve reviewed, considering its performance, cost, feel, energy efficiency, and overall versatility. I’ll also highlight similar models and do the research for you. In the end, I offer my honest opinion on who the blanket would be best for and whether it’s worth buying. My reviews are completely unbiased, so when I recommend a product, you can trust it’s based on my personal experience.
