How long do electric blankets actually last?

Community consensus across r/BuyItForLife and r/Frugal threads is sobering: most modern electric blankets last 2–5 years before developing cold spots or controller failures, regardless of brand. Reviewers repeatedly cite that older Sunbeam and Beautyrest models held up better than newer designs, and that washing per manufacturer instructions (rather than dry-cleaning or wringing) is the single biggest factor in lifespan.