The basics of sauna maintenance

To keep your sauna in good condition, you need to take care of it. There is no other room in our homes that has to withstand such extreme conditions — heat, humidity, and constant temperature changes. Luckily, keeping your sauna clean, beautiful, and hygienic doesn’t require a lot of effort.

The more careful you are after every sauna session, the longer your sauna will last. Below you’ll find practical tips for everyday sauna cleaning as well as deeper maintenance, which is worth doing about once a year.

A sauna is a special space — and it needs your attention

A sauna is unique because a lot of moisture accumulates there. Sweat, skincare products, and leaves from sauna whisks can also end up on different surfaces. If you do a light clean after each sauna session, it helps keep the space hygienic and prevents bigger issues over time. It also makes the more thorough yearly maintenance much easier.

Do a light clean after every sauna session

Taking care of your sauna after a relaxing steam session isn’t complicated. Most of the time you’ll only need a scoop, a brush, and a damp cloth. Most surfaces can be cleaned with water — and it’s important to leave the sauna well ventilated afterwards.

After every sauna evening, do these three simple things:

Sweep up whisk leaves and other loose debris.
Wash the benches and floor with warm water.

Good tip: If you clean right after each sauna session, dirt comes off easily and the later deep clean will be much faster. Rinse the surfaces with water to remove sweat and any skincare residues (such as honey, body scrubs, or masks). If you’ve tracked in dirt from outside with bare feet, use a sponge or scrub pad.

Good tip: Rinse the benches with cold water afterwards — this closes the wood pores and helps the surface resist dirt.

Let the room dry properly by opening the ventilation hatch or sauna door.

If you use your sauna frequently or have many people using it, it’s a good idea to also clean the steam room, benches, and shower area with a disinfecting cleaning product every few sauna sessions. Don’t forget to clean the drain as well.

Once a year: do a more thorough maintenance check

A good rule of thumb is to do a deep clean of the benches and walls and replace any worn or broken parts once a year.

If you use the sauna often, wash the benches, walls, and floors with a scrubbing brush and sauna cleaner every six months.

Wood protection should be refreshed depending on how heavily the sauna is used, on average every 1–3 years.

Deep cleaning and caring for wood surfaces

Scrub the sauna walls, floor, and benches thoroughly using a soft brush and a special sauna cleaning product.

Good tip: You can get help choosing the right cleaning product at a building supply store or sauna shop. Remember what materials your sauna contains (wood, ceramic tiles, metal) and ask for products suitable for humid spaces. Special sauna cleaners also help remove limescale stains, make cleaning easier, and add protection to surfaces.

When cleaning the benches with detergent, always brush along the grain of the wood. Rinse the detergent off carefully and pour cold water over the benches afterwards to help the wood repel dirt.

Let the sauna dry slowly and heat it for at least 30 minutes.

Good tip: Stubborn dark stains can be removed by rubbing them with sandpaper. Ideally, sand the entire bench surface. If you sand only the worn areas, those spots will remain visible after maintenance.

Once the sauna is clean and dry, apply a fresh protective layer to the wood surfaces.

Good tip: Sauna wood typically needs a new protective layer every 1–3 years. Use a special oil, lacquer, or sauna wax. Treat all wooden surfaces, but pay extra attention to the benches, which experience the most wear.

Good tip: There are two types of wood finishing products:

Absorbing products (oil and wax)
Surface products (sauna lacquers)

Oil and wax can be used on benches, floors, and walls. Sauna lacquer is not used on bench boards.

Good tip: Impregnating oil is a great option for benches. It closes the wood pores and protects the surface against moisture and dirt. The most common options are paraffin oil and linseed oil. Apply the oil with a wide brush in a thick layer and let it absorb deeply into the wood. Wipe away any excess oil left on the surface. The cleaner and drier the wood is during treatment, the better the result. After applying oil, we recommend heating the sauna. When warmed, excess oil will rise to the surface and can be wiped off.

Good tip: If you’re unsure which product to choose, ask for advice from a sauna or building store expert. Before going, check and note which wooden surfaces you have in your sauna.ekut vaata kindlasti üle ja jäta meelde, millised puitpinnad sinu saunas on.

Maintaining the sauna heater

At least once a year you should check the condition of the heater and stones. If the heater has reached the end of its lifespan, has visible damage, or heating problems, it must be replaced. A damaged or poorly functioning heater can become a fire hazard.

When choosing a new heater, it’s important that its power matches the dimensions of your sauna room. You can find help from our blog article ja sauna heater size calculator.

If you have a wood-burning sauna heater:

Empty the ash drawer before every heating session, as this controls airflow and draft.
If the heater has dust or dirt on it, wipe it with a damp cloth.
At least once a year, have a specialist clean the chimney and flues.

If you have an electric sauna heater:

Dust and dirt can usually be removed with a damp cloth.

Good tip: Contact with sauna water may cause limescale stains on the heater. Most sauna cleaning products include ingredients that help remove them.

Good tip: For stainless steel heaters, ask a sauna or building store for a suitable cleaning product. Use a soft cloth (microfiber works well) and clean along the direction of the steel surface structure. Don’t use abrasive pastes or rough sponges — they can damage the finish.

If the sauna hasn’t been used for a long time or you suspect the heating elements aren’t working properly, remove a few stones to inspect the elements. If the heater is switched on and the elements don’t heat up or glow red, they’re broken and must be replaced.

When should you replace sauna heater stones?

Sauna stones also need attention — they don’t last forever. Over time, because of sauna water and extreme temperature changes, stones begin to crumble. Stones sinking and small stone fragments can block airflow between the stones, affecting steam quality, heating speed, and the lifespan of the heater. For good steam, air must be able to circulate through the heater.

Check the stones once a year or after 300 hours of heating.
Remove all stones and evaluate their condition by tapping two stones together.
Replace stones that have crumbled or become noticeably lighter.
Wash good, solid stones you want to reuse with water and a soft brush.
The easiest solution is to replace all stones at once.

On our support page, you can read how to prepare sauna stones before use and how to stack them correctly in the heater.

A simple routine keeps your sauna always ready

How often you should clean the sauna depends on how frequently and intensely it’s used. You’ll know best when maintenance is needed. But a good general rule is: light care after every sauna session and deeper maintenance once a year.

If you give your sauna a responsible look after every steam session and leave it clean and ready for the next visit, you’ll always enjoy returning.

Photos: HUUM. Private sauna in Tartu