6 Tips to Clean an Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas are made of wood and use dry heat to warm your body from the inside. This makes them a great place to relax and recharge, but if you’re considering buying one, you’re probably wondering how to clean the infrared sauna. Well, you’re in luck! Because infrared saunas don’t generate moisture, they don’t require much maintenance to keep them looking beautiful. After each use, checking off a few maintenance tasks and keeping up with monthly maintenance will allow you to enjoy your sauna anytime.

1. Sit on a Towel During Use

When you buy a sauna, you’ll want to keep it looking great. One of the best (and easiest) ways to do this is to simply lay a towel on the bench before you sit down. Not only does this make sitting more comfortable, but it also protects the wood from any sweat, oils, or dirt from your body. You can also place towels on the sauna floor to catch any dirt tracked in when you enter. You can also place your feet on the towel during your sauna session to prevent sweat from soaking into the floor.

2. Wipe the Benches after Each Use

An infrared sauna vs. a traditional sauna uses dry heat instead of steam, so there won’t be much moisture to deal with, but you’ll still have to deal with any sweat left behind by the user. To deal with this, you should wipe the benches after each use. If you sit on a towel, this step is just a quick wipe when you pick up the towel. If you opt for no towel while you relax in your sauna, you can grab a clean, dry towel after your sauna session and do a quick wipe down.

3. Vacuum the Floor Once a Week

Dirt, dust, hair, and other debris can get tracked into the sauna as you enter or exit, so doing a quick vacuum with the handheld attachment once a week will help you keep on top of things. If you don’t use your sauna as often, once a month should do the trick. Another way to reduce the need for vacuuming is to place a towel on the floor to prevent dirt from getting tracked onto the floor.

4. Sand out Stains

Even if you take the precaution of putting a towel down on the bench and wiping the sauna after each use, stains can still appear in your infrared sauna due to sweat and oils. If this is the case, don’t worry! All you have to do is gently sand the area until the stain disappears.

5. Do a Deep Clean Once a Month

To keep the sauna's interior beautiful, clean, and inviting, you can do a deeper clean on the interior once a month. You can buy a sauna cleaning solution from a local sauna installer or make your own by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda in a gallon of water. Using your chosen solution and a clean cloth, lightly scrub the walls, bench, and floor. You can even wipe the heater to ensure no dust builds up on it and remove any fingerprints—just make sure the heater is cool before cleaning it to avoid burning yourself.

6. Polish the Exterior

Whether you build an indoor or outdoor sauna, you can use furniture polish on the exterior to keep it looking beautiful—but don’t use stains or varnish on sauna wood. Outdoor infrared saunas will need a little more maintenance, and you can pressure wash them periodically to avoid any dirty buildup.