Sauna Cleaning

A clean sauna is safer and more enjoyable.

According to the Harvard Men's Health Watch, saunas provide a generally safe way to relax for anybody with a healthy heart and blood pressure. Sauna rooms have high heat, sometimes reaching up to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, which naturally causes an abundance in sweat loss. Due to the constant exposure to sweat, it's important to keep a sauna clean to prevent bacteria growth and bad odor. A thorough weekly cleaning with the proper tools will keep the sauna sanitized.

Cleaning Solution

Turn off the sauna before you start to clean it. Mix a cleaning solution using water and a mild, all-purpose cleaning detergent, such as a liquid dish detergent. Strong cleaning supplies such as chlorine bleach may be too harsh for wood in a sauna and can bleach the color. Four or five drops of detergent in a gallon bucket of hot water should be enough to clean the sauna. Fill two 1 gallon buckets with the cleaning solution.

Cleaning Sauna Rocks

Remove the sauna rocks from the sauna's heating tray. Soak the rocks in a bucket of the cleaning solution while you clean the inside of the sauna. After you've cleaned the sauna, remove the rocks from the bucket, scrub them with a sponge and rinse them with clean water to remove all soap suds. Let the sauna rocks air dry before returning them to the heating tray.

Cleaning the Sauna

Scrub the entire inside surface with a sponge soaked in the cleaning solution. Pay extra attention to the benches and heavily trafficked areas of the floor as these spots tend to harbor the most dirt and bacteria. Once the entire inside is scrubbed clean, wipe it down with a different sponge or clean towel to remove the soap suds and soak up some of the water.

Drying the Sauna

Turn on the heat tin the sauna o maximum after you've thoroughly cleaning it. The high heat will cause any water to evaporate. This quick drying process reduces the chance of mold or mildew growth that may occur if the moisture was left to sit for too long. Turn off the heat in the sauna once the interior feels completely dry to the touch.

References

• Harvard Medical School: Sauna Health Benefits
• 123 Saunas: General Facts About Saunas