Sauna maintenance

Routine cleaning

The North American Sauna Society says sauna maintenance is minimal: scrubbing the bench and wet-mopping the floor weekly, or less often with less use, is typical. The North American Sauna Society suggests a quick 30-second bench scrub after each session with a brush dipped in the sauna water bucket.

Almost Heaven says the interior can be kept clean by periodically scrubbing the floor and benches with soap and water, rinsing, and running the heater to dry the room. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Finnleo says dirt or sweat stains can be cleaned with a hand brush and warm water with a mild detergent. Finnleo strongly recommends putting towels down during use to protect sauna surfaces from sweat and moisture.

Finnleo says lower benches usually have longer supports so they can be slid in and out for easy cleaning.

Drying out after use

Almost Heaven recommends letting the heater stay warm after use to dry out the sauna. Finnleo recommends that after use the duckboards be propped off the floor and the door left open so the sauna airs out completely. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

The North American Sauna Society says water spilled on the floor dries as the rocks cool at the end of a session, though the floor can be wet-mopped.

The wood: treat it or not

Makers disagree on this point, so each view is given with its source.

Almost Heaven says the interior of a sauna room should never be treated. Finnleo says not to paint, varnish or stain a sauna's interior surfaces, because the wood needs to breathe. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Finnleo makes an exception for door handles and floor boards, which can be treated with a wood sealant or polyurethane to make cleaning easier.

Thermory, a maker of thermally modified sauna wood, recommends treating the sauna's wooden surfaces with an oil or wax wood preservative twice a year.

Finnleo says benches can be lightly sanded about once a year to bring them back toward their original colour.

Almost Heaven says pitch seeping from spruce can be scraped off with a razor blade and the residue cleaned with a rag and rubbing alcohol. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Stones and heater

Almost Heaven recommends inspecting heater stones annually, rearranging them and replacing any broken ones. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Finnleo says to place the smaller, flatter stones around the outside of the rock compartment and the larger ones in the centre, leaving space between them rather than forcing them in. Finnleo says to rinse the stones before placing them in the heater.

Finnleo says all sauna heater stones should be recommended and tested by the heater manufacturer.

The North American Sauna Society says a sauna heater should generally last anywhere from 5 to 20 years.

Almost Heaven says wood-burning saunas need regular chimney checks. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Our sauna stones guide covers which stones to use and when to replace them.

Outdoor barrels

Almost Heaven says an outdoor barrel sauna may need its bands tightened or filler staves added, usually within the first few months. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Read next

• Sauna wood types
• Sauna stones
• Sauna ventilation