Key Takeaways
A home sauna is one of the most rewarding wellness upgrades you can add to an East Tennessee home, but like any feature that combines heat, moisture, wood, and electricity, it rewards a little regular attention. Good sauna maintenance keeps the space hygienic, protects the wood and heating elements from premature wear, and helps everything run safely for many years. The good news is that most upkeep is simple, quick, and easy to fold into your routine. Below, the Spas & More team walks through the practical steps that keep both traditional and infrared saunas clean, dry, and long-lasting.
Saunas create a warm, humid environment that people love and that mold, mildew, and bacteria also love if surfaces are left damp. Sweat, body oils, and skin cells accumulate on benches and floors with every session. Left unaddressed, that buildup can stain the wood, create odors, and shorten the life of your sauna. Regular sauna maintenance is really about two things: keeping surfaces clean and keeping the interior dry between uses. Get those two habits right and you have solved most of the problems a home sauna can develop.
The most important habit is cleaning the surfaces that come into contact with skin. After each session, once the sauna has cooled, wipe down the benches, backrests, and floor with a damp cloth to lift away sweat and residue. Sitting on a towel during every session dramatically reduces how much sweat soaks into the wood in the first place, so keep a supply of clean towels nearby and encourage everyone to use them.
For stubborn stains, lightly sanding the affected area of an unsealed wood bench can restore its appearance without chemicals. Always sand with the grain and wipe away the dust afterward.
Moisture control is where many home saunas quietly go wrong. After a session, prop the door open and allow the interior to air out and dry completely. If your sauna has adjustable vents, open them to encourage airflow. In a traditional sauna, the combination of heat and steam means surfaces stay damp longer, so proper drying time is essential. In an infrared sauna, humidity is lower, but sweat still collects on benches and needs to be wiped and dried.
Never leave wet towels, water buckets, or damp mats inside a closed sauna between uses. Trapped moisture with no airflow is the single most common cause of mildew and musty odors. If you notice any early signs of mold, address it right away with a sauna-safe cleaner and improve the ventilation so the problem does not return.
The wood interior is the heart of any sauna, and it needs to breathe. One of the most important things to understand is what not to do: avoid varnishes, lacquers, and standard sealants. These finishes trap heat against the surface, can become uncomfortably hot to touch, and off-gas fumes as the sauna warms. Sauna wood is meant to remain natural and porous so it can absorb and release moisture.
In a traditional sauna, the heater and its rocks deserve regular attention. Over time, sauna stones break down from repeated heating and cooling, which can restrict airflow and reduce heating efficiency. Every so often, remove the rocks, discard any that are cracked or crumbling, rinse away accumulated dust, and restack them loosely so air and heat can circulate freely. Never overpack the rock tray.
Look over the heater elements for corrosion, scale buildup, or damage, and keep the area around the heater clear of towels and other objects. If the heater is slow to warm, trips your breaker, makes unusual noises, or shows any sign of electrical trouble, stop using it and arrange for professional sauna repair rather than attempting a fix yourself.
If you have an infrared sauna, the maintenance shifts from rocks to emitters. Wipe the emitter surfaces gently with a dry cloth to keep them free of dust, and check that each panel is heating evenly during use. A panel that stays cold, flickers, or heats inconsistently points to an emitter or wiring issue that should be inspected by a qualified technician.
A well-sealed door keeps heat where it belongs and helps your sauna reach temperature efficiently. Inspect the door gasket and hinges for gaps, warping, or looseness, and make sure the door closes snugly. A poor seal forces the heater to work harder and drives up energy use.
Sauna lighting is designed to withstand heat and humidity, so never substitute a standard household fixture or bulb. Check that lights and any protective covers are secure and free of moisture, and replace fixtures only with sauna-rated components.
Saunas combine electricity with heat and moisture, which makes electrical safety non-negotiable. Routinely check that cords, controls, and connections show no fraying, scorching, or discoloration. Test any GFCI protection according to the manufacturer’s guidance.
Here is the firm rule the Spas & More team always shares: cosmetic cleaning and simple upkeep are yours to handle, but anything involving the heater, wiring, controls, or electrical components should be left to a professional. If a breaker trips repeatedly, you smell burning, or the sauna is not heating correctly, turn it off and call a qualified technician. Professional inspection and repair are far less costly than the risks of a mishandled electrical problem, and they protect both your investment and your safety.
A few times a year, give your sauna a thorough deep-clean beyond the routine wipe-downs. Scrub all surfaces, clean or replace the rocks, vacuum dust from vents and around the heater, inspect the wood in detail, and check every seal, light, and fastener. This seasonal reset is also the ideal moment to note anything that seems worn so you can plan repairs before the busy season. Homeowners who deep-clean on a regular schedule tend to enjoy a fresher, safer sauna for far longer.
Consistent sauna maintenance is not complicated: wipe down surfaces, keep everything well ventilated and dry, protect the natural wood, inspect the heater or emitters, and call a professional for anything electrical. Whether you are caring for an existing unit or considering a fresh sauna installation, a little regular attention pays off in comfort, safety, and longevity. If you have questions about your sauna, need an inspection, or run into an issue you would rather not tackle alone, reach out to the Spas & More team. We are here to help East Tennessee homeowners keep their saunas safe, clean, and running beautifully for years to come.
After each cooled session, wipe the benches, backrests, and floor with a damp cloth. Weekly, scrub with warm water and, for tougher marks, a mild sauna-safe cleaner or a little baking soda, then rinse and let everything dry fully.
Keep the interior dry. Prop the door open to air it out after use, open any vents, and never leave wet towels, buckets, or damp mats inside a closed sauna between sessions.
No. Avoid varnishes, lacquers, and standard sealants, which trap heat and off-gas fumes as the sauna warms. Sauna wood should stay natural and porous; if you want protection, use only a product made for sauna interiors, such as a paraffin-based sauna wax.
Cleaning and simple upkeep are yours to handle, but if a breaker trips repeatedly, you smell burning, or the sauna is not heating correctly, turn it off and call a qualified technician. Anything involving the heater, wiring, or controls should be left to a professional.
Written by Spas & More
Spas & More provides hot tub, spa, sauna, and hardscaping sales and service across East Tennessee. Questions? Email timspasandmore@gmail.com or call (423) 337-1859.
