We know you love your sauna because it offers tremendous health benefits. Taking an assessment and doing routine sauna maintenance ensures you can use your equipment year-round. The first step is to begin with a high-quality Backcountry Recreation construction — built from premium cedar or thermowood — to ensure your sauna lasts for many years. The next step is to use our tips below to keep your sauna working smoothly and efficiently.
How to Maintain Your Sauna
Indoor Sauna:
While an indoor sauna doesn't require protection from the elements, it's still imperative to do basic routine maintenance. Whether you have an electric stove or a wood burning heater, keeping the interior clean ensures optimal dry heat and healthy humidity levels during every session.
Some indoor sauna maintenance tips you can use:
- Vacuum out your sauna periodically to remove any dust or debris.
- Use a mild solution of baking soda and water as a cleaning solution. Use a soft cloth to rub and clean any perspiration or dirt spots gently.
- Sit on a towel during the sauna session to help prevent sweat or dead cells staining the wood.
- Once each year, take fine sandpaper and sand down your benches to remove stains and restore a smooth finish. Ensure the area is well-ventilated while any finish is drying.
- Never stain or varnish the interior, as this can affect insulation efficiency and release unhealthy vapours during your session.
Outdoor Sauna:
Backcountry Recreation's barrel sauna construction only uses durable materials — including cedar and thermowood — so your equipment lasts for years. However, maintaining your sauna is still important as they're exposed to light, wind, rain, and harsh weather year-round. Use our tips below:
- Sit on a towel during each session to help reduce or prevent sweat or dead cells from staining the wood.
- Vacuum out the sauna every few uses to prevent dust, dirt, or tracked-in leaves from building up.
- If you live in a wet or snowy climate, check your unit every few months for water seepage. Tighten barrel bands, especially after first assembly. If the bands are loose, add extra staves to seal the exterior tightly.
- To make the exterior cedar or thermowood last for years, pressure-wash it periodically to remove dust, debris, and mildew.
- Clean out the unit by gently spraying it with water and using a mild cleaning solution after every few uses.
- Although our wood ages well, you can stain the exterior with a UV inhibitor stain to ward off sunlight's fading effects.
- Periodically check your sauna stones for cracking. The repeated cycle of dry heat and cooling can cause cracks over time. We carry replacement stones if you need them.
- Never stain or varnish the interior of a barrel sauna, as that will affect the sauna's insulation efficiency and ventilation, causing unhealthy vapours during löyly.
Every Few Uses:
- Wipe away any perspiration spots. Use warm water if necessary.
- Vacuum out dust.
- Gently rinse out the unit and use a mild cleaner as necessary.
Annually:
- Check barrel sauna stones for cracking.
- Power wash the exterior (on outdoor models).
- Check the outdoor sauna exterior for any loose parts or wear.
- Sand down benches and any stains with fine-grain sandpaper.
- Check for weathered spots or chipping if you have stained your outdoor sauna. Re-stain or patch as needed.
Looking for more guidance? Read 10 Things You May Not Know About Barrel Saunas, explore 5 Reasons You Should Consider a Outdoor Barrel Sauna, or head back to our Barrel Sauna Basics guide for a full overview.
For more details on our available barrel sauna models and their upkeep, give us a call at 877-446-3565 or email info@backcountryrecreation.com