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8 winter products that will keep you warm – without skyrocketing your energy bill
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As the colder weather sets in, you might be worried about the rising cost of energy bills. But you don't necessarily need to crank up the heating to stay warm.
The experts at Which? have rounded up their top winter essentials to keep both you and your home warm, without relying on constant central heating.
Dreamland Snuggle Up Heated Throw
I am obsessed with my heated throw. It's essential when I'm at work, keeping me nice and snug and saves me putting on the heating.
We like: Long cable
We don’t like: It'll be hard to get out from underneath it
After being outside in the cold all day, there’s no better way to spend a winter evening than snuggling up in front of the TV. A heated throw will make that feel even cosier, without adding much to your energy bill.
Dreamland’s Snuggle Up electric throw has velvet fabric and six heat settings. Thanks to the choice of colours available, you're sure to find one to go with your room’s aesthetics. And if you fall asleep under it, there’s a timer that can turn it off after one, three or nine hours.
Read our Dreamland Snuggle Up Heated Throw review or see more of the best heated throws.
Hot water bottle with a fluffy cover
The fluffy cover will trap in the heat so your bottle (and feet) will stay warm all night long. Make sure to always buy from a reputable retailer, though.
We like: Comforting and warm
Watch out for: Careful not to burn yourself when filling it up
Enjoy hours of cosy, cord-free warmth with a hot water bottle. Just fill it up with hot water, pop it into its super-soft faux fur cover and get comfortable on the sofa or in bed.
This one is available at John Lewis in four stylish shades, including navy, lilac, pink and brown.
Stick to official retailers like John Lewis to avoid unsafe counterfeit products from unverified third-party marketplace sellers.
Russell Hobbs RHEDB8002 Electric Underblanket
In the winter, I love getting into bed when it's already warm. We got an electric blanket with two controls so my partner and I can have different temperatures. We've had ours since 2022 and use it every year. It folds up surprisingly small for storage in the summer.
We like: Keep warm at night
We don’t like: No programmable timer
An electric blanket isn’t the same as a heated throw – it’s made for staying warm in bed rather than on the sofa. With this between your sheets, you won’t need to rely so heavily on the central heating.
The Russell Hobbs RHEDB8002 electric underblanket has six temperature settings and dual controls, so if you sleep in bed with your partner, you can customise the warmth on each side. There’s no need to compromise.
Read our Russell Hobbs RHEDB8002 Electric Underblanket review or see more of the best electric blankets.
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 Purifying Fan Heater
This Dyson is expensive but can be used year-round. In the summer, we used it as a fan during the heatwaves, while in winter, it warms up our front room without having to turn the heating on.
We like: Lots of features
We don’t like: Takes up a fair amount of space
Get winter warmth, summer cooling and year-round air purification from a single machine.
The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 delivers 10 airflow speeds, wide oscillation and full smartphone control. Plus, smart sensors cut the power as soon as your room is the perfect temperature, saving you energy automatically.
Read our Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 Purifying Fan Heater review or see more of the best electric heaters.
Black & Decker X Frame Heated Airer
Cold, wet weather means laundry takes forever to dry, so I’ve finally bought a heated clothes airer for the winter. For my small loads of washing, it's more energy efficient than a tumble dryer and will also help keep the room warm.
We like: Dries clothes inside
We don’t like: Not as big as other airers
Save energy on using the tumble dryer by plugging in a heated airer instead. Clothes won’t take days to dry, it’ll help prevent damp, and you can warm up your socks before you put them on in the morning.
The Black & Decker X Frame has 24 heated bars and claims to hold up to 15kg of laundry. The X shape means clothes should have plenty of space between one another. It also folds down for simpler storage.
Read our Black & Decker X Frame Heated Airer review or see more of the best heated airers.
DeLonghi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator TRDX41025E
Working from home and being the only one in the house, I don't want to turn the central heating on – but I still want to be warm. I have a small oil-filled radiator that I put next to my desk. It warms me and the room that I'm in, without having to turn on the central heating and warm up the empty house.
We like: Can be programmed to run on a weekly timer
We don’t like: It'll make the rest of the house feel cold
When it's too cold for just a jumper, but too soon to turn on the heating, a portable oil-filled radiator is the ideal middle ground. It slowly heats an internal oil reservoir to deliver steady, long-lasting warmth.
The DeLonghi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator TRDX41025E is programmable from 5 to 28°C with four power settings and a programmable timer. To move it around, there are wheels and two handles on top at both ends. It’ll also turn itself off if it tips over.
Read our DeLonghi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator TRDX41025E review or see more of the best oil-filled radiators.
Hive Thermostat V4
With a smart thermostat, I can control my heating directly from a phone app. I can shut it off when I'm away for the weekend and turn it back on before I get home, so I no longer waste money heating an empty house.
We like: Create specific daily or weekly heating schedules
We don’t like: Some functions locked behind Hive Plus subscription service (£39.90 per year)
Installing a smart thermostat could help you save money on your energy bills by allowing you to monitor your energy usage, making it easier to figure out where you could be making savings. Some will even go as far as to learn your habits and adjust the temperature in your home accordingly, so you don’t waste money on heating your home when you don't need it.
The Hive smart thermostat is designed for combi boiler heating systems, and is OpenTherm compatible, which means it can communicate with the boiler to reach and maintain the correct temperature more efficiently.
Read our Hive Thermostat V4 review or see more of the best smart thermostats.
Foot Buddy foot warmer mat
Available from BeWarmer (£189)
You can buy the FootBuddy as an underlay to put under an existing rug, or as a separate mat that fits neatly under a desk. With its claimed running costs of around 2p per hour, you can leave it on all day if you're working from home and turn down the heating. It's underfloor heating without the hassle of ripping up your existing flooring.
We like: Easy way to warm up your feet
Watch out for: Pick the right size for the spot you'll use it in
If you work from home or spend your evenings relaxing on the sofa, but you struggle with chilly feet in the winter months, a foot warming mat could be the answer.
You simply need to lay it out, plug it in and it’ll get to work warming up your feet and ankles. This one by FootBuddy comes in several sizes depending on whether you intend to place it under your desk or by your living room settee.
