THE ULTIMATE GUIDE ON CLEANING A SAUNA

After a long grind at work or training at the gym, relaxing in a sauna can be just the luxurious experience you need to unwind and de-stress. In fact, using a sauna is a centuries-old method that arose from humans using heat and steam for its health care benefits. Yet, how hygienic and reliable are these hot – and sometimes steamy – places?

Keeping your health in mind, this article will provide expert advice on how to keep your sauna clean, tips for deep-cleaning a sauna, as well as how to maintain it so you and your family can enjoy your investment for years to come. 

First, Are Saunas Full of Germs?

When saunas are properly used and maintained, they can remain quite clean and will not cause harm or illness. However, when they go unused for long periods of time or are left neglected, a sauna can become a breeding ground for pesky microbes. Exposure to these microorganisms can result in many health risks, such as upset stomachs and skin problems, including bacterial infections, impetigo, and rashes.

Warm and humid environments are where harmful bacteria and microorganisms thrive. This is more likely in a steam room, rather than a sauna. 

Saunas produce a dry heat and a low level of humidity. Traditional style saunas are warmed by a heater and sauna rocks, usually operating at a temperature of around 180 - 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Water can be sprinkled on the sauna rocks to produce steam and create a steam room experience, but the temperature will still be much higher than that of an actual steam room.

A steam room, on the other hand, are wet rooms that use generators and boiling water to make lots of steam. This means that they are quite humid, with levels as high as 100%. The temperature in a steam room is lower than that of saunas, usually 100 - 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to their warmth and humidity levels, steam rooms have a higher potential than saunas to be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. 

8 Use Tips for Maintaining a Hygienic Sauna 

Here we’ll share 8 tips that will help you keep your sauna as clean as possible while you use it.  If you follow these tips, you can maintain the aesthetic appeal of your sauna cabin while ensuring that your guests also follow a clean protocol. 

• Keep your feet clean: Make sure your feet are clean before using the sauna. It’s critical to wash your feet before entering or put on flip-flops so you don’t track in dirt and bacteria that can lead to mold. 

• Use a towel: Place a towel on your seat to absorb sweat and create a hygienic barrier separating you from the sauna seating. 

• Cover any injuries: Before using the sauna, treat and cover any wounds. If possible, do not use the sauna bath when injured.

• Don’t use it when sick: A person with a cold may shed bodily fluids that could spread the illness.

• Stay hygienic: Take a quick rinse and shower before and after your sauna session to ensure that you and your sauna remain clean.

• Let in the air: Ensure that you get rid of extra moisture after using the sauna. After each usage, thoroughly ventilate your sauna and its area to clear the humidity. Tell other sauna users to leave the sauna doors open after use to improve ventilation and enable the room to dry out.

• Wipe it down: Keep a handy brush beside the sauna entrance. After a sauna session, use the brush to wipe down backrests, walls, and benches. Wiping it down only takes a few minutes and will maintain your sauna in great shape for many years. If you don’t have a brush, a clean, damp cloth will do. 

• Use it regularly: The best way to keep your sauna free of mold and mildew is to use it regularly! Simply use it as a “dry” sauna and the high heat and lack of humidity will zap away any microorganisms that may be forming. Just be sure to use a towel on the benches to protect them from sweat. 

Cleaning a Sauna 

Saunas will need cleaning after prolonged usage. In case of regular use, we advise cleaning it once a month. The most effective saunas are those that are hygienic. Here are some quick and simple steps for cleaning a sauna and increasing your health and happiness. Before trying any of these deep-cleaning methods, be sure to wait until the sauna has cooled down and stopped running before cleaning it! 

Basics of Cleaning a Sauna: Soaping and Mopping

If you use your sauna frequently enough, you might wish to give the floor a deeper clean. A mild detergent and warm water can clean stains left behind by dirt tracked into your sauna. Use a light, chemical-free, liquid deodorizing cleaner to mop the floors of your sauna to keep it looking and smelling fresh. 

• Avoid harsh cleaning agents: Do not use chemical cleaning agents on wood. They might bleach the wood, ruining the surface permanently.

• Use proper sanitization methods: Since sauna wood is extremely dry and sensitive to moisture, do not sanitize with a high-pressure washer or a water hose.

• Use soft water: You might never need to use anything else to cleanse the wood elements of your sauna if you clean it every time while using pure water rather than hard water.

• Keep airing it out: After you've cleaned your sauna, let it air out. Leave the sauna door open as you leave so that it may ventilate and stay fresh. The interior will ultimately dry out completely.

Cleaning a Sauna with Eco-Friendly Supplies

Traditional cleaning supplies are hard on your sauna benches, and can be harmful to humans and the environment. There are many easy and safe techniques to clean your sauna, with ingredients readily available in every home. What's more, if you are environmentally conscious, these materials you use to clean your sauna are ecologically harmonious.

Baking soda

Sauna surfaces respond well to baking soda, which also eliminates foul smells. For instance, it eliminates offensive refrigerator odors. To thoroughly clean the surfaces of the sauna, combine 5 liters of water with a pinch of baking soda.

Organic cider vinegar

Organic cider vinegar is a good cleanser that costs a fraction of what commercial products do. Use a mixture of three parts warm water and one part apple cider vinegar. This blend of cider vinegar and water works well to sanitize and disinfect. Apply on every part of the sauna. You won't have to worry about any lingering pollutants when you remove all stains and grime.

Linseed oil soap with potassium

The best mild soap for cleaning the sauna is linseed oil potassium soap. The cold-pressed linseed oil used to make the potassium soap makes it ideal for sanitizing surfaces, including wood floors.

Shake the bottle thoroughly before using it to scrub the benches of the sauna. Combine five liters of tepid or cold water with one liter of soap (1:5). Scrub the seats along the wood grain.

Deep-Cleaning a Sauna: Sandpaper for Heavy Dirt Removal

You have another choice if soap cannot restore the appearance. No more than once a year, gently sand the seats to get the wood’s surface back to its former appearance. Use fine-grained sandpaper to remove highly stubborn dirt or discoloration from any wood sauna type. You can also use a sanding disc. To prevent fine particles from landing on the rocks while sanding, cover the sauna heater with plastic and clean all the surfaces with a vacuum upon sanding. Then use a moist cloth to mop the seats and backrests of the sauna.

Please be aware, though, that thermally modified wood does not allow for this. Also, do not paint the sauna's interior paneling or internal furnishings, such as loungers. Likewise, using a wood sealer or wood preservative inside a sauna is not recommended.