Sauna Maintenance Guide: How to Clean and Care for Your Sauna

A sauna is one of the lowest-maintenance investments you can make in your home, especially compared to a hot tub or pool. Still, a little routine care goes a long way. Wiping down benches after each session, airing out the cabin, and handling a few seasonal tasks will keep your sauna hygienic, looking new, and running well for decades. 

Our guide walks through sauna maintenance by frequency, with specific notes for infrared, traditional, and outdoor models.

How To Clean A Sauna In 6 Steps

1. Wipe down benches and backrests with a damp cloth or towel immediately after each use to remove sweat and body oils.
2. Leave the door open after each session so the cabin can air out and dry completely.
3. Vacuum or sweep the floor and duckboards weekly to clear dust, hair, and debris.
4. Wipe all wood surfaces weekly with a solution of water and mild vinegar. Skip bleach and harsh chemicals, which can dry out and discolor the wood.
5. Deep clean benches, walls, floors, and under-bench areas monthly, checking corners and seams for early signs of mold or mildew.
6. Sand any stained or discolored wood by hand instead of applying paint, stain, or sealant, which the heat inside a sauna will break down quickly.

Should You Clean Your Sauna After Each Use?

The habits that protect a sauna happen in the minutes right after you step out. Wipe benches and backrests down with a towel to lift sweat and body oils before they set into the wood grain. Bring a towel or small rug to sit or lie on during your session, since this single habit reduces the buildup that eventually causes staining. 

Make sure to leave the door open once you are finished so moisture has somewhere to go. A cabin that dries out fully between sessions is far less likely to develop mold, mildew, or a musty smell.

Your Weekly Sauna Maintenance Routine

Once a week, give the whole cabin a proper once-over. Sweep or vacuum the floor and duckboards to clear out dust, hair, and any debris tracked in on bare feet. Wipe down benches, backrests, walls, and the floor with a cloth dampened in a solution of water and mild vinegar. Vinegar cuts through oils and mineral residue without the fumes or wood damage that come with bleach or ammonia-based cleaners. 

If you use a traditional steam sauna, avoid pouring hard water over the rocks, since the calcium and magnesium in it leave behind a limescale that is difficult to remove later.

Monthly And Seasonal Deep Cleaning for Sauna Maintenance

Set aside time once a month for a deeper clean. Pull benches away from the wall where possible and check corners, seams, and under-bench areas for early mold or mildew, since these spots trap moisture longer than open surfaces. Wipe down vents and door hardware, which collect dust even when the rest of the cabin looks clean. 

If you notice any staining or a rough patch on the wood, sand it by hand with a fine-grit disc rather than reaching for a chemical cleaner. Sanding lifts discoloration without introducing anything that reacts poorly to heat.

Annual Sauna Maintenance

Once a year, plan for a few larger tasks. Traditional saunas need their heating stones restacked or replaced, since stones settle and crack with regular use, and they lose some of their heat retention over time. Rinse new or replacement stones before loading them to remove loose grit and dust. Check the wood throughout the cabin for cracking, warping, or loose joints, and treat exposed surfaces with a food-grade paraffin oil made for sauna use if the wood looks dry. Tighten any loose screws on doors, vents, and benches, and confirm the door still closes and latches properly. If your sauna runs on an electric heater, have the wiring and connections inspected by a qualified electrician to catch wear before it becomes a bigger repair. Taking time for these yearly checks ensures your home sauna remains a safe, relaxing retreat for decades.

Infrared Sauna Maintenance

Infrared saunas skip the heated rocks and steam entirely, so their maintenance leans lighter on water exposure and heavier on protecting the panels and control system. Wipe the interior panels and benches with a dry or barely damp cloth, since infrared components are more sensitive to standing moisture than a traditional heater and stones. Keep the control panel and any exposed wiring dry at all times, and avoid spraying cleaner directly onto the panels. Check that the ventilation is clear so that heat distributes evenly across the cabin.

Traditional Sauna Maintenance

Traditional saunas built around a rock heater need a bit more attention to the heating element itself. Pour water over the stones gradually rather than all at once, which protects both the stones and the heating coils underneath. Rinse new stones before use and inspect them periodically for cracking, replacing any that look worn. Give the heater guard and surrounding wood an occasional wipe to clear dust, since heaters draw in more debris than any other part of the cabin.

Outdoor And Barrel Sauna Maintenance

Outdoor and barrel saunas face weather exposure that indoor cabins never see, so their exterior needs its own routine. Check the exterior wood seasonally for weathering, and treat any exposed exterior surfaces with a wood protectant rated for outdoor use, keeping that treatment strictly to the outside of the cabin. Clear leaves, snow, and debris away from the base and roofline so water does not pool against the wood. Inspect the door seal and roof seams before each season to catch any gaps before moisture gets in.

Sauna Wood Types & Specific Care

Different softwoods used in sauna construction require slightly different care to maintain their natural oils and aroma:

• Western Red Cedar: Highly resistant to moisture and decay, cedar naturally resists bacterial growth. Avoid heavy scrubbing across the grain, which can raise the softwood fibers.
• Hemlock & Spruce: Less oily than cedar, these lighter woods show sweat spots faster. Ensure guests always sit on towels to prevent deep tanning oil and sweat stains.

Troubleshooting Common Sauna Maintenance Issues

• Persistent Mold/Mildew: If mildew appears in dark corners, mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 3 parts water, scrub gently with a soft brush, and allow to dry completely with the door wide open.
• Stubborn Water Spots on Glass Doors: Use a microfiber cloth dampened with equal parts water and white vinegar. Avoid commercial window cleaners containing ammonia, as fumes will linger inside the cabin during your next heated session.

What Not To Do

A few habits shorten a sauna’s lifespan faster than anything else. 

• Skip paint, varnish, or sealant on interior wood, since the heat causes these coatings to off-gas and break down, and the fumes have nowhere to go in an enclosed cabin. 
• Never use a pressure washer inside or on interior wood, which forces water into joints and seams that are difficult to dry out.
• Keep chlorine and other pool-grade chemicals away from your sauna entirely, since they were never designed for the wood, stones, or ventilation systems inside a sauna cabin.

What Is An Ideal Sauna Maintenance Schedule?

Frequently Asked Questions About Sauna Maintenance

How often should I clean my sauna? Wipe down benches after every use, do a full surface clean weekly, and set aside time monthly for a deeper check of corners and under-bench areas. Larger tasks like re-stacking stones and treating wood only need attention once a year.

Can I use bleach to clean my sauna? No. Bleach and other harsh chemicals dry out and discolor sauna wood. A water and mild vinegar solution cleans just as effectively without the damage.

Do I need to seal or varnish the wood inside my sauna? No. Heat causes sealants and varnishes to break down and off-gas inside the cabin. Sand-stained wood by hand instead, and only treat exterior wood on outdoor models with an outdoor-rated protectant.

Whether you’re due for your first seasonal deep clean or looking to protect a new investment, using the right tools makes all the difference. Explore our selection of sauna care kits and accessories at Great Bay Spas to keep your sauna operating smoothly and looking brand-new for years to come.