How to Clean a Sauna: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sauna Care

Basking in the soothing heat of a clean, aromatic sauna is one of life's underrated joys, but what happens if a sauna doesn't meet sanitary standards? An unclean sauna can make your experience unpleasant and harmful. To avoid this, cleaning a sauna regularly is a must. 

Sauna cleaning doesn't require complex steps, processes, or special tools. All it needs is a bit of basic care and maintenance to enhance and extend its lifespan. This keeps the installation running well and reduces the need for costly maintenance.

This article addresses the question "how to clean a sauna" and discusses issues revolving around sauna maintenance. Whether you own a traditional sauna or an infrared sauna, stay tuned to find out the best ways to clean a sauna.

How to Clean a Sauna: Explained in Four Steps

Cleaning a sauna isn't as complicated as it seems. Your sauna habits determine how often you need to clean it. Most people use saunas at least four to five times a week. For such frequent usage, cleaning the sauna at least weekly is recommended. Follow these simple steps to maintain optimal sauna hygiene.

Step 1: Vacuum the Surface Dirt

Saunas attract dirt and dust, like our living rooms or bedrooms. When this accumulates over time, it can interfere with the wellness experience, especially when it mixes with the steam and heat in a sauna. 

Vacuuming and sweeping the sauna walls and floor helps remove this kind of superficial dirt, which can trigger allergies and foster unpleasantness within the sauna. 

You can use a small-sized, portable vacuum cleaner to catch any stray particles. Use specialized nozzles to access hard-to-clean crevices in the sauna. Alternatively, use a traditional broom to gently sweep accumulated dirt from the wood. 

Step 2: Scrub Stains and Dirt

Once your sauna is free of all loose dust and dirt, you can move on to the next stage of cleaning. 

Saunas also accumulate all kinds of stubborn stains that look and feel unsightly on the wooden interiors. 

Sweat and water stains are especially common and can discolor the wood over time. To remove these, use a damp sponge or a clean wet cloth. 

You can use any of these products to coax the stains out of the wood:

• Light laundry soap

• Organic stain remover or sauna cleaner

• A solution of vinegar and warm water 

Dip your washcloth in the cleaning liquid and rub the stains in gentle, circular motions. If you're using a cleaning spray, leave it on for at least a few minutes before cleaning it. Lastly, rinse the cleaned section and let it air-dry completely. 

For extra-stubborn stains, use a 150–180 grit sandpaper. This sandpaper is light on wood and can help you gently remove the most annoying stains. Wipe the sanding dust clean with a moist sponge and let it dry.

Step 3: Deep Clean and Sanitize 

Cleaning sauna surfaces such as seats, walls, and floors is a given, but don't forget about sauna accessories such as:

• Sauna stones

• Sauna heaters

• Burners

Sauna stones in home saunas can be cleaned once or twice each year. 

However, your sauna heater needs cleaning every few sessions, especially if it's a traditional, wood-burning sauna stove. Use a dedicated broom and dustpan to remove any ash or wood residue from prior sessions. Electric heaters are often filled with debris, cobwebs, and dust. Clean them with a broom or a small vacuum attachment.

Pay attention to high-touch areas within the sauna and clean them thoroughly. 

This includes:

• Backrests

• Door handles

• Light switches

• Control knobs

Use natural products whenever possible to avoid chemical reactions that could harm the sauna. For example, use lemon juice and water or make a baking soda and water solution. 

Step 4: Check for and Get Rid of Unpleasant Odors

It is usual for a regularly used sauna to emit unpleasant odors. Keep your sauna door open to let it air out after each session. To help eliminate these unpleasant odors from your sauna, use organic, fresh-smelling cleaning products instead of chemical detergents. 

Alternatively, use light perfumes, essential oils, or fragrance emulsions during sauna sessions to keep the air fragrant. 

Consider fragrances like these for a pleasant yet welcoming ambiance:

• Peppermint

• Birch

• Lemon

• Lavender

Tips for Maintaining and Caring for Your Sauna

Here are a few bonus tips to maintain cleanliness inside your sauna:

Routine Checks

After every cleaning session, check that everything works properly, from stoves and burners to lights and control knobs. Perform routine checks in between sessions to ensure no dirt particles remain inside your sauna heater.

General Tips and Mistakes to Avoid While Cleaning

Here are a few preemptive steps you can take at home to avoid leaving a mess after sauna use:

• Showering before a sauna is customary. It removes dirt and sweat from your body, ensuring hygiene is maintained during sauna sessions. 

• Bring a towel and spread it out on your bench to shield the wood from sweat stains.

• Airing your sauna unit after each session is a must. It helps get rid of the humidity and accumulated steam instead of letting it settle and permeate into the wooden interiors.

• While it's understandable to want to keep your sauna clean, don't rush into it after a session. Before you begin cleaning, make sure the sauna is switched off and has cooled down.

• Wipe down surfaces with a moist or damp towel, not a wet one. This prevents excess moisture from seeping into the wood and allows it to dry quickly. It will also help protect the wood and extend the life of your sauna.

• Never use a yard hose or high-pressure cleaner to clean your sauna; the intense pressure and moisture can damage the wood.

• Never clean a sauna using chemical-grade, powerful disinfectants. It can pollute the air in a sauna, making you more susceptible to allergies. It also harms the good bacteria in a sauna, making you ill in the long run. Use natural or organic sauna-safe cleansers as much as possible.

A Note on Wood Maintenance: How to Clean Sauna Wood

Here are some tips on how sauna wood must be treated properly to ensure effective insulation:

• If you must use a sealant, choose one that is breathable and contains oil or wax. This type of treatment improves the tone of the wood while also increasing its strength to withstand dirt and moisture. 

• Disinfectants are necessary for sauna cleaning, but do not apply them directly to wood. They can bleach the wood, causing it to damage its integrity. Instead, use mild, safe-to-use wood cleansers. Choose organic, biodegradable, and non-toxic products.

• There are also safe-to-use dirt-repellent wood sprays available these days. Make use of these toxin-free products to keep your sauna interiors cleaner for longer.

• Do not wear damp swimsuits to the sauna. Moisture and sweat-absorption bench covers are recommended.

How to Clean a Sauna: FAQs 

Can I paint or varnish my sauna?

Never varnish, stain, or paint the sauna interior. Doing so can impair the wood's inherent properties, and your sauna won't heat up well. It can even cause the wood to fracture, warp, or split due to the toxic fumes produced by these synthetic stains. 

Consider using a polyurethane or wood sealant. That said, this should only be used on the sauna's exterior walls, doors, and door knobs to protect them from the elements.

How do you avoid/clean sweat stains from the sauna?

Use highly absorbent towels inside the sauna to avoid sweat stains. Because you sweat profusely during a sauna session, your towel must be absorbent enough not to let the sweat leak through. You can also use specialized sauna seat covers or bench cushions to clean your sauna interiors.

Should I clean my sauna after each use?

One must-do of sauna maintenance is wiping down your benches after each use. It's also important to air out your sauna after every use. Doing both these things helps remove extra moisture and leaves your sauna clean and dry for the next session. No moisture means fewer stains, making it easier to clean your sauna.

How to Clean a Sauna: Final Words

Maintaining a clean sauna is critical for a pleasant and hygienic experience that maximizes its wellness benefits. If you have a home sauna, follow our four-step cleaning routine and perform frequent checkups on your sauna. Simple habits such as cleansing before sauna sessions, using absorbent towels, and allowing ventilation help create a cleaner and more satisfying sauna atmosphere. 

High-end and durable saunas require little cleaning and maintenance. The wood inside these saunas is made to withstand all kinds of elements, making your cleaning job much easier. 

That's why you should ensure that you purchase a good quality sauna from a reputable retailer like My Sauna World. We feature a diverse collection of traditional saunas and sauna brands to choose from. Feel free to contact us for more details; our staff will gladly help you.