A sauna is supposed to be a relaxing escape from your daily grind, not another chore. Fortunately, saunas are very low maintenance and by following the advice below, it should only take 30 seconds per session and 15 minutes per month to keep your sauna in pristine condition.
Keep your sauna clean by laying a towel on the bench where you will be sitting before you use the sauna. After you are done with the sauna you can wipe it down with a mixture of vinegar and water. You should vacuum and scrub your sauna with a mild cleaner once per month.
Moisture is the breeding ground of bacteria. Because saunas produce a dry heat, it is relatively easy to keep them free of bacteria.
You will be sweating in both infrared and traditional saunas. Sweat can drip on the benches and floor of the sauna. You will want to wipe up sweat after every session to prevent bacteria growth and sweat stains on your sauna’s surface.
Apart from bacteria and sweat, the only other thing you will be dealing with is dirt and dust. You will handle this wiping the sauna after each use and by occasionally vacuuming and sweeping.
Tips For Each Sauna Session
Rinse off first. If you can, rinse off quickly in the shower before your sauna session. Doing so will remove dirt and dead skin cells from your body and prevent them from ever getting in your sauna in the first place.
Use towels. The easiest thing you can do to keep your sauna clean is to place a towel on the bench you will be sitting or lying on. After your session is over, you can simply throw the towel in the laundry and that, in-of-itself, will protect the wood from the majority of dirt and sweat that would otherwise accumulate on the sauna’s surface. Using a sauna cushion will provide the same benefit.
Bringing an additional towel in the sauna with you that you can use to dab and wipe away the sweat on your body will help also and you may find that doing so makes for an even more enjoyable sauna experience.
Wipe down the area where you were sitting. After every session, you should wipe down the area where you were sitting with a rag or sponge, using water or a vinegar solution.
Many people opt to use water for daily wipe downs. It is best to use distilled or filtered water to prevent minerals in the water from accumulating on the wood surfaces of the sauna. Another method is to use vinegar or a very mild soap.
You should never use harsh cleaners or ammonia to clean your sauna as they can damage the wood. Some people recommend cleaning with baking soda and water, but baking soda could damage and discolor the wood in your sauna, especially if it soaks into the wood.
I recommend filling an empty plastic spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and filtered water and keeping handy. Though optional, diffusing 10 to 15 drops of an essential oil or tea tree oil in this cleaning solution provides a nice effect.
Leave the sauna door open after use. Leave the sauna door open after using the sauna to allow any moisture remaining in the sauna to escape and evaporate.
If you use towels and keep your spray bottle handy, then cleaning the sauna after each session should take no more than 30 seconds.
Weekly Cleaning
Each week (or once every 5 to 7 sessions if you don’t use the sauna daily) you should do a more thorough cleaning. You should continue to wipe with vinegar and water, but now you should get the entire sauna surface, not just the areas where you sit.
If there are any stubborn stains or dirt, now is the time to use a mild soap or a cleaner that is specifically designed for saunas.
Don’t over do it, the interior wood of a sauna is delicate. If you have been wiping down your sauna after every session, it won’t need a lot of cleaning. Weekly cleaning should take no more than 5 to 10 minutes.
Monthly Cleaning
Once a month you should spend 15 minutes getting all the dirt out of your sauna.
Sweep out and mop the floors of the sauna. Again, when mopping use a mild soap, diluted with water. Use a vacuum to clean dust and dirt from the benches, walls, nooks and crevices of the sauna.
If there are still visible sweat or water stains which you haven’t been able to get out, you can remove them with a light sanding. Use a fine grain sand paper (360 to 600 grit). You can also sand out any scuffs or scratches.
Yearly Maintenance
Once a year, you should lightly sand the interior wood of your sauna with a fine grade sand paper (360 to 600 grit).
You should also check your sauna for any loose screws and tighten them. Check to see that your door hinges are tight and oil if necessary.
Finally, look for any parts that need to be repaired or replaced.
Mold
If, at any time, you discover mold in your sauna, you should take immediate action. This is the only instance where you should consider using a bleach based product in your sauna. Clean the affected area thoroughly and make sure to air out the sauna before using it again.
If there is mold, it will likely be between grates, near vents, drains, or anywhere moisture accumulates. If you find that a particular part of your sauna tends to accumulate moisture, than you should take special care to dry these parts after every sauna session to prevent mold from ever occurring.
As long as you take care to dry out your sauna after every use, mold should never be an issue.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Sauna Heater
Most electrical sauna heaters do not require much cleaning or maintenance. They tend to be made of stainless steel and should be cleaned with a rag and vinegar. Remove sauna rocks and wipe the trough of your sauna heater.
You can soak your sauna rocks in soap and water. Let them dry before placing them back on the sauna heater. Sauna rocks should last for years. If you notice that they are chipping or cracking, it is time to replace them.
Caring for an Outdoor Sauna
With an outdoor sauna it is all the more likely that dirt will be tracked into the interior of the sauna. For this reason, you will likely need to vacuum and sweep and outdoor sauna more often than an indoor sauna.
The exterior surface wood of an outdoor sauna does not need to be treated. They will weather naturally. If you prefer, you can stain the exterior of a wood sauna. Look for a stain that protects against ultra violet rays. You should never paint or varnish the exterior of your sauna.
You can pressure wash the exterior of an outdoor sauna, but you should never pressure was the inside of a sauna, as the interior wood is delicate and is likely to be damaged.
Related Questions
How often should a home sauna be cleaned? Any part of the sauna that is touched by skin should be wiped down after each use. Light cleaning of the sauna should be done weekly and the sauna should be vacuumed and mopped once per month.
How do you treat a wooden sauna? You should never treat, varnish, stain or paint the interior wood of sauna. The outside of a wooden sauna can be stained, but it is not necessary.
How can you make your sauna smell better? Regular cleaning will minimize unwanted odors. You should leave the door open to allow air to flow in and out of the sauna. You can wipe the sauna with essential oils.
Is a sauna self-cleaning? To say a sauna is self-cleaning is a bit of an exaggeration. Because they are hot and dry, they tend to be easier to clean and more hygienic than a pool or Jacuzzi, but you do have to clean them.
