How to Clean a Sauna

On this page (10 sections)

1. How do you clean a sauna step by step?
2. What should you use to clean sauna wood?
3. How do you clean sauna benches and contact surfaces?
4. How do you clean the inside of a dry sauna?
5. How do you clean a cedar wood sauna?
6. How should you clean the sauna floor?
7. Can you use eucalyptus oil in a sauna?
8. What should you avoid when cleaning a home sauna?
9. How often should you clean a home sauna?
10. What is the safest way to keep a sauna clean?

To clean a sauna, let it cool, sweep away debris, wipe wooden surfaces with a barely damp cloth, and dry them fully. Use a cleaner only if it suits the wood and finish, and follow the sauna and heater manuals.

A light routine after each session helps prevent sweat and dirt from building up on benches and other touch points. A deeper clean can wait until you see residue, stains, or an odor.

How do you clean a sauna step by step?

Cool the sauna, remove loose debris, wipe the wood lightly, and let every surface dry. Check the manual first for approved cleaners, water use, and heater care.

1. Switch off the heater and let the room cool.
2. Remove towels, accessories, and loose debris.
3. Sweep or brush the floor and bench surfaces.
4. Wipe wood with a clean, barely damp cloth.
5. Dry the surfaces with a towel, then leave the room ventilated.
6. Clean the floor and contact surfaces according to their materials and the manual.

Avoid soaking wood or leaving puddles on the floor. Excess water can seep into joints and take longer to dry.

What should you use to clean sauna wood?

Start with a dry brush or a barely damp cloth. Add a wood cleaner only when the sauna’s care instructions allow it.

For a brush, choose soft bristles that lift loose dirt without scratching the surface. Our guide to the best sauna cleaning brush covers options for reaching benches and corners.

If a cleaner is approved, use a small amount on a cloth instead of spraying the wood directly. The best sauna wood cleaner guide can help you compare products, but the sauna maker’s care instructions should guide your choice.

Is a household wood cleaner safe inside a sauna?

Not automatically. A cleaner made for finished household wood may not suit unfinished, heat-exposed sauna boards, so check the sauna maker’s guidance and the cleaner’s directions before use.

Murphy Oil Multi-Use Wood Cleaner Spray is described for finished wood surfaces. It may suit a sauna only if its wood finish and care instructions allow that type of cleaner.

Apply any permitted cleaner to a cloth first, and try it on a hidden area. Stop if the surface changes color or feels different after drying.

How do you clean sauna benches and contact surfaces?

Wipe benches, backrests, and handles after use to remove sweat before it dries. Use a clean cloth that is dry or barely damp, then dry the wood.

Pay extra attention to places where skin touches the wood. Don't use rough scouring pads, hard brushes, or bleach unless the sauna maker specifically permits them.

For a gym or shared facility, follow a regular schedule and use cleaning products approved for that sauna. Our guide to how to clean a gym sauna covers shared-use routines.

Can you use Murphy Oil Soap on sauna benches?

Use it only if the sauna maker approves it for the bench wood and finish. Murphy Oil Soap is described for finished wood surfaces such as floors, cabinets, and tables, but sauna benches can have different care needs.

If approved, follow the product directions and use a wrung-out cloth rather than wetting the bench. Dry the wood afterward and let the room air out before heating it again.

Skip it if the bench is unfinished or the sauna manual calls for water only. For stubborn stains, ask the sauna maker about sanding or other repair steps.

How do you clean the inside of a dry sauna?

For a dry sauna, clean the interior after it cools and keep moisture low. Sweep loose dust and wipe wood lightly, avoiding water on the heater or electrical parts.

Dry-sauna heat and infrared heat differ, but both types need surface care suited to their materials.

If you’re unsure how heat works in an infrared cabin, see Do Infrared Saunas Get Hot? What to Expect Inside.

Check the heater manual before cleaning stones or any area near the heating elements. Never pour cleaner onto the heater, and don't turn it on until the room and surfaces are dry.

How do you clean a cedar wood sauna?

Clean cedar with a light touch: brush off dirt, wipe with a barely damp cloth, and dry it promptly. Avoid soaking or applying oils unless the sauna’s care instructions allow them.

Cedar is a wood choice for some sauna interiors, but each sauna’s finish and construction can affect care. For more on wood selection, read how to choose wood for sauna benches and is hemlock wood good for saunas.

Don't sand or seal cedar as a routine cleaning step. Those actions change the surface and should follow the sauna maker's instructions.

How should you clean the sauna floor?

Sweep the floor first, then clean it according to its material. A removable wooden duckboard may need different care from tile or another fixed floor.

Lift removable boards if the manual permits it, and clean beneath them so moisture and debris don't collect. Dry both the boards and floor before putting them back.

Use a damp mop only when the floor material and sauna instructions allow it. Wring it out well, and keep water away from electrical connections and the heater.

Can you use eucalyptus oil in a sauna?

Eucalyptus oil is for aroma, not for cleaning wood. Use it only as directed by the oil and sauna makers, and never pour it directly onto hot stones or heating elements.

Eve Hansen Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil is described for use in diffusers, humidifiers, saunas, and steam rooms. That use does not make it a wood cleaner, and it should not replace wiping away sweat or dirt.

Follow the sauna’s directions for adding scent, since the method and safe amount can vary by heater. If the manual doesn't describe oil use, leave it out.

What should you avoid when cleaning a home sauna?

Avoid soaking wood, abrasive tools, and unapproved cleaners. They can mark the surface or leave residue where people sit and touch.

Keep cleaning liquid away from the heater, controls, lights, and electrical parts. Don't mix cleaners or use a scented product to cover an odor before finding its source.

If a stain remains after gentle cleaning, check the manual or contact the sauna maker before sanding or treating the wood. Clean, dry surfaces are the safer starting point.

How often should you clean a home sauna?

Wipe contact surfaces after each use and sweep whenever debris collects. Do a deeper clean when buildup or odor appears, or on the schedule in your manual.

Leave the door open after cleaning if the maker recommends it, so the room can dry. Store towels and accessories outside the sauna between sessions.

If you’re deciding between sauna and another heat option, Sauna vs Hot Tub: Dry Heat or Warm Water? explains the basic differences. For routine use, see how to use a dry sauna.

What is the safest way to keep a sauna clean?

For how to clean a sauna, use the least moisture and the mildest method allowed by the manual. Brush away loose dirt, wipe wood with a barely damp cloth, and dry it promptly.

Choose a wood cleaner only when the sauna’s care instructions allow it. Use eucalyptus oil only for scent and only as directed, and keep all liquids away from the heater and electrical parts.

Frequently asked questions

How often should you clean a home sauna?

Wipe sweat from benches and other contact surfaces after each use, and sweep the floor when debris appears. Clean more thoroughly when you see buildup or notice an odor, then let all surfaces dry.

Your sauna’s manual may set a different schedule or name specific care products.

Can you use vinegar to clean a sauna?

Don't assume vinegar is safe for every sauna. Acidity, concentration, and the wood’s finish can affect the surface, so check the sauna maker’s care instructions first.

If a product is allowed, test it on a hidden spot and use a small amount on a cloth rather than soaking the wood.

Can you use essential oil to clean a sauna?

Essential oil is for scent, not a substitute for cleaning. Don't apply it directly to wood or a hot heater; follow the sauna and oil makers’ instructions for any permitted use.

To clean, remove sweat and dirt with a dry or barely damp cloth and an approved cleaner if needed.

How do you clean cedar wood in a sauna?

Clean cedar sauna wood gently: sweep or brush away loose dirt, wipe with a barely damp cloth, and dry it promptly. Avoid soaking, abrasive pads, and unapproved oils or cleaners, which may change the wood’s surface.

Check the sauna’s care guide before treating stains or heavy buildup.