# How to Clean a Sauna: Wood Care and Maintenance Schedule

Source: https://www.mars-sauna-room.com/guides/how-to-clean-a-sauna/

Published 2026-10-08, updated 2026-10-20.

To clean a sauna, let it cool, vacuum debris, wash benches, backrests and floor with warm water and a mild unscented soap using a soft brush, wipe with a damp cloth, then dry the room thoroughly with the heater on or the door and vents open. Prevention does most of the work: sit on towels, wipe benches after each session and never let the wood stay damp.

## Why sauna cleaning is different from other rooms

A sauna is a room of bare, untreated softwood that is heated to 150-195 °F (66-91 °C) in a traditional sauna or about 110-140 °F (43-60 °C) in an infrared cabin. Two things follow:

- **Anything left on the wood gets heated.** Cleaner residue, fragrances and solvents can vaporize and irritate the eyes and airways. That is why sauna cleaning products are mild and unscented.
- **Moisture is the main enemy.** Sweat, steam and wet towels soak into wood. If the room does not dry, you get dark stains, odor and mildew. The [US EPA](https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home) notes that materials dried within 24-48 hours usually will not grow mold.

Most sauna maintenance is about keeping sweat off the wood and moisture out of it.

## What you need: sauna cleaning supplies

| Item | Use | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Mild, unscented liquid soap or sauna wood cleaner | Weekly to monthly wash of benches and walls | Bleach, ammonia, degreasers, scented cleaners |
| Soft nylon brush or non-scratch sponge | Scrubbing benches with the grain | Wire brushes, scouring pads |
| Microfiber cloths | Wiping, drying, dusting infrared emitters | Paper towels that leave lint on heaters |
| Vacuum with brush head | Hair, dust and sand from floors and corners | Pressure washers indoors |
| 120-180 grit sandpaper or sanding block | Removing sweat stains and rough spots | Coarse grit that gouges soft cedar |
| Diluted white vinegar (1:4 or weaker) | Glass doors, light mildew spots | Using it near electrical parts |
| Baking soda paste | Spot-treating odors and marks | Leaving residue on wood |
| Bench paraffin oil made for saunas (optional) | Protecting benches from sweat | Varnish, polyurethane, paint, stain inside the room |

A good sauna cleaning solution for routine washing is a teaspoon or two of mild soap in about a gallon (4 L) of warm water. Stronger is not better: the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/when-and-how-to-clean-and-disinfect-your-home.html) notes that soap, water and scrubbing remove most germs and dirt, and that disinfecting is usually only needed when someone in the home is sick. If you do disinfect, never mix products, and ventilate well.

## How to clean a sauna step by step

1. **Turn off and cool down.** Switch off the heater at the control panel. For an infrared sauna, also unplug it or switch off the breaker. Wait until surfaces are cool to the touch.
2. **Remove loose items.** Take out towels, mats, buckets and removable duckboards or floor tiles.
3. **Vacuum and dust.** Vacuum the floor, under benches and corners. Dust the ceiling and vents with a dry cloth.
4. **Wash benches and backrests.** Dip a soft brush in your mild soap solution, wring it out so it is damp rather than dripping, and scrub along the grain. Focus on where hands, heads, backs and feet rest.
5. **Wipe the walls.** Lightly wipe walls, paying attention to lower sections where sweat drips. Walls rarely need scrubbing.
6. **Rinse.** Wipe all washed surfaces with a cloth dampened in clean water to lift soap residue.
7. **Clean the glass.** Use diluted vinegar or a glass cleaner sprayed onto the cloth, not the door, so drips do not reach wood or seals.
8. **Wash the floor.** Mop tile or concrete floors, or scrub duckboards outside the sauna and let them dry in the air.
9. **Dry completely.** Run a traditional sauna at moderate heat for 20-30 minutes with the vent open, or leave an infrared sauna door open for several hours. Do not close a wet sauna.

### How to clean sauna wood stains

Dark sweat marks and water rings are normal on light woods such as hemlock, aspen and spruce. To remove them:

- **Light stains.** Scrub with the soap solution, or apply a baking soda paste for 10-15 minutes and wipe off.
- **Set-in stains.** Sand lightly with 120-150 grit, then 180 grit, along the grain. Vacuum the dust and wipe with a barely damp cloth.
- **Mildew spots.** Wipe with diluted vinegar, dry thoroughly and fix the cause, usually poor ventilation or a room shut while wet. Our [sauna ventilation guide](/guides/sauna-ventilation/) covers vent placement.

Sanding is the most effective sauna wood cleaner because it removes the stained surface instead of adding chemicals. Cedar is softer than hemlock, so use lighter pressure; see [red cedar vs hemlock](/guides/red-cedar-vs-hemlock/) for how each wood ages.

## How to clean an infrared sauna

Infrared cabins have more electronics in the room, so the routine changes:

- **Never spray liquid** on infrared emitters (carbon, ceramic or full-spectrum panels), wiring, speakers or the control panel.
- **Dust emitters** with a dry microfiber cloth only, with the power off.
- **Wipe wood** with a well-wrung cloth rather than a wet brush. Infrared cabins have no stove to dry the room quickly, so use less water.
- **Choose an infrared sauna cleaner** that is unscented and labeled safe for untreated wood, or simply use the mild soap solution.
- **Leave the door open** for a few hours after cleaning and after each session.

## How to maintain a traditional sauna heater and rocks

Electric sauna heaters in the US must meet UL 875 and be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, as [California's mechanical code](https://gocodebook.com/library/us/ca/ca-mechanical-code/chapter-9-installation-of-specific-appliances/939.1-electric-sauna-heaters.-sauna-heaters-shall-comply-with-ul-875-and-shall-be-installed-in-a) states; internationally, [IEC 60335-2-53](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/68677) covers sauna heaters and infrared cabins. Follow the heater manual for maintenance, and leave electrical work to a qualified electrician.

- **Use only clean water** on the rocks. Additives and essential oils poured directly on stones can leave residue and damage some heaters; use the method the manual allows.
- **Restack rocks every 6-12 months.** Remove them, discard cracked or crumbling stones, rinse the rest and restack loosely so air flows. See [sauna rocks](/guides/sauna-rocks/) for replacement timing.
- **Keep the heater guard clear** of towels and clothing.
- **Check for rust or loose parts** on the heater and guard during deep cleans.

## Sauna maintenance schedule

| Frequency | Home sauna | Commercial sauna |
|---|---|---|
| After each session | Wipe benches, hang towels outside, leave door ajar | Wipe benches between users, remove towels |
| Weekly | Vacuum floor and corners, clean glass | Daily: vacuum, wash floor, clean glass |
| Every 2-4 weeks | Wash benches and lower walls with mild soap | Weekly: full wash of benches and walls |
| Every 3-6 months | Sand stains, check door seal, tighten bench screws | Monthly: sand high-wear areas, inspect hardware |
| Every 6-12 months | Restack or replace rocks, inspect heater, emitters and wiring visually | Quarterly: heater and control service per manufacturer |

## Habits that keep a sauna clean

- Shower before use; the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/safety/what-you-can-do-to-stay-healthy-in-hot-tubs.html) gives the same advice for hot tubs because it keeps sweat, oils and lotions out of shared spaces.
- Always sit and lie on a towel, and use backrests and headrests.
- Do not bring food, drinks other than water, or skin products into the sauna.
- Keep the vents open after use and the room humidity low between sessions; EPA recommends indoor humidity below 60%, ideally 30-50%.
- Replace worn backrests, headrests and bench covers; [sauna accessories](/saunas/sauna-accessories/) such as removable backrests are easier to wash than fixed boards.

## A note on "sauna cleansing"

People often search "sauna cleansing" meaning detoxing the body rather than cleaning the room. Sweat is mostly water and salt, and the kidneys and liver do the real clearing work. We cover that question in [do saunas detox your body](/guides/sauna-detox/).

## Spare parts and replacement wood

Mars Sauna builds cabins in Canadian hemlock and western red cedar and supplies sauna accessories and parts for distributors who service installed rooms. If you need replacement benches, backrests or heater parts for resale, [contact us](/contact/) with model details.

## Key takeaways

- Clean a sauna with warm water, a mild unscented soap and a soft brush; avoid bleach, ammonia and scented products.
- Drying the room completely after every session and every clean matters more than any sauna cleaner.
- Sand set-in sweat stains with 120-180 grit instead of using stronger chemicals.
- In infrared saunas, never spray emitters or electronics; dust them dry with power off.
- Never varnish or paint interior wood; restack heater rocks every 6-12 months.

## FAQ
### How do you clean a sauna?
Clean a sauna by letting it cool, vacuuming loose debris, then washing benches, backrests and floor with warm water and a mild, unscented soap using a soft brush. Rinse with a damp cloth, then run the heater or leave the door and vents open so the wood dries completely. Wipe benches after each use and deep clean monthly.

### What is the best sauna cleaner?
The best sauna cleaner is a mild, fragrance-free soap or a cleaner made for untreated sauna wood, diluted in warm water. Avoid bleach, ammonia, solvent-based or strongly scented products, which can damage wood, leave residues that vaporize when heated and irritate the airways. For stubborn marks, light sanding works better than stronger chemicals.

### Can you use vinegar to clean a sauna?
Yes, diluted white vinegar, about one part vinegar to four or more parts water, works on glass doors and for light mildew spots on wood. Use it sparingly on wood, rinse with a damp cloth and dry the room afterward. Never mix vinegar or any cleaner with bleach, and do not spray it onto heaters, infrared emitters or electrical controls.

### How do you clean an infrared sauna?
Turn off and unplug the infrared sauna, let it cool, then wipe wood with a lightly damp cloth and mild soap solution, never soaking it. Dust infrared emitters with a dry microfiber cloth only, and do not spray cleaner on panels, wiring or the control panel. Leave the door open afterward so moisture can escape.

### How often should a sauna be cleaned?
Wipe benches and backrests after every session, vacuum or sweep weekly, wash wood surfaces with mild soap every two to four weeks for home use, and do a deeper inspection every six to twelve months. Commercial saunas used daily need benches wiped between users and a full clean at least daily.

### Should you seal or varnish sauna wood?
Do not varnish or paint the interior of a sauna. Film finishes trap moisture, can become sticky and hot, and may release fumes when heated. Interior wood is usually left untreated or treated only with a product specifically made for sauna interiors, such as a bench paraffin oil. Exterior wood on outdoor saunas does need weather protection.


## Sources
- [US EPA: A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home](https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home)
- [CDC: When and how to clean and disinfect your home](https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/when-and-how-to-clean-and-disinfect-your-home.html)
- [CDC: What you can do to stay healthy in hot tubs](https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/safety/what-you-can-do-to-stay-healthy-in-hot-tubs.html)
- [California Mechanical Code 939.1: Electric sauna heaters shall comply with UL 875](https://gocodebook.com/library/us/ca/ca-mechanical-code/chapter-9-installation-of-specific-appliances/939.1-electric-sauna-heaters.-sauna-heaters-shall-comply-with-ul-875-and-shall-be-installed-in-a)
- [IEC 60335-2-53: Particular requirements for sauna heating appliances and infrared cabins](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/68677)