How To Care For Your Infrared Sauna
How To Care For Your Infrared Sauna
Congratulations! You’ve invested in your health with an infrared sauna. This is a purchase that can last you over a decade when you shop with Health Mate, especially if you make the effort to keep it in good condition. Here are our tips for keeping your in-home, wooden infrared sauna in great working order:
1. Shower before using your sauna
The easiest way to keep your sauna clean is to clean yourself before using it. When you avoid bringing in dirt, dust, and oils in the first place, you can stay one step ahead in maintenance.
2. Lightly Clean Your Sauna After Each Use
After every session, simply wipe down the surfaces with a damp cloth. Make sure to hit the areas you touch like the control panel, the door handle, and the seating. Don’t forget the backrest if you use one.
3. Dust The Interior and Exterior
Dust can easily collect in places where you can’t see—like the top of the unit or in crevices. Take some time while cleaning the rest of your home to dust the inside of your sauna. If you have an Inspire model, don’t forget to check around the recessed lighting.
Try to dust the top, sides, and back of your unit once a month. This will help keep the electrics in good working order too.
4. Watch Your Heater
Dust can easily collect in places where you can’t see—like the top of the unit or in crevices. Take some time while cleaning the rest of your home to dust the inside of your sauna. If you have an Inspire model, don’t forget to check around the recessed lighting.
Try to dust the top, sides, and back of your unit once a month. This will help keep the electrics in good working order too.
5. Keep the floor cleaN
You’re likely using the sauna barefoot. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that the floor is clean. Sweep or vacuum the floor once every few sessions. It can also be cleaned with a damp cloth like the rest of the unit. It’s not recommended to use shoes in your sauna, as they can scuff the wood and track in more dirt.
6. Use a towel to protect your sauna
Putting a towel down before sitting in your sauna will help keep perspiration off the wood surfaces, reducing the risk of staining. If you have a bench cushion, putting a towel down can help increase the longevity of the cushion.
7. Care for the wood
Don’t use any treatments on the interior of your sauna. However, if you’d like the sauna exterior to look shiny and new, you can use wood polish or oil (NOT paint or varnish) to keep the wood healthy. This is especially helpful if your unit is exposed to a lot of sunlight via window or glass door. It will also help protect the wood from warping or buckling over time.
8. Sweat stains? Sand them out
If your sauna gets stained from sweat or some other substance, you can lightly sand them away. Be sure to use a high grit sandpaper and work in a small inconspicuous are first. A wood oil can be used after you’re done revitalize the wood. Make sure not to use toxic substances on your sauna’s interior, since heat can release oils and substances in the wood.
Tip: if the pleasant cedar smell of your sauna has disappeared, sanding the interior may help. The scent of cedar wood comes from oils in the wood. Over time, these oils evaporate and the wood dries out. Sanding removes the top layers of dried out wood to reveal the healthier, oil-rich wood underneath. After sanding, vacuum up the dust and polish with a wood oil.
9. Keep Your Sauna Dry
Moisture can lead to mold, mildew, and stains. Try to leave the door open while it cools down so that the humidity can escape. Then close the door to keep excess moisture and dust out. Luckily infrared saunas use dry heat, so you there isn’t a lot of moisture, but sweat is a concern and if you live somewhere humid the air can shorten the lifespan of your sauna’s wood.
10. Stay away from the rays!
If your sauna gets stained from sweat or some other substance, you can lightly sand them away. Be sure to use a high grit sandpaper and work in a small inconspicuous are first. A wood oil can be used after you’re done revitalize the wood. Make sure not to use toxic substances on your sauna’s interior, since heat can release oils and substances in the wood.
Tip: if the pleasant cedar smell of your sauna has disappeared, sanding the interior may help. The scent of cedar wood comes from oils in the wood. Over time, these oils evaporate and the wood dries out. Sanding removes the top layers of dried out wood to reveal the healthier, oil-rich wood underneath. After sanding, vacuum up the dust and polish with a wood oil.
Now you’re prepared to take care of your sauna for years to come while it takes care of you. Read up on the benefits of infrared sauna or checkout our FAQ for more info on our saunas and care.