The Proper Care And Feeding Of Saunas

Taking a sauna is renowned to be a very healthful thing to do, and many people make it a habit to use a sauna at least twice a week. The Finns have more saunas in their country than any other country, and much of what we know about the sauna comes from the Finns.

Using a sauna to extremes can be hazardous to your health, as are most things that are taken to extremes. The hotter it is in the sauna the shorter the period of taking the sauna should be, as extreme heat will in fact use up the oxygen in the sauna, creating a dangerous situation.

Saunas should be thoroughly dried and allowed to ventilate after use. Showers are recommended prior to use of a sauna in order to remove oils from you body that may stain the wood surfaces. Even with scrupulous showers the wood is untreated and thus stains may arise anyway. They can be removed with very light sanding. You should never treat the wood with anything else as lacquer or paint would create toxic fumes when heated.

A sauna should be thoroughly cleansed after approximately a month of use. This is true especially of the floor and any wood surfaces that have been in touch with sweat. Plain soapy water is recommended followed by a thorough rinse. Electric heaters should be wiped down with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. With wood burning heaters, it is recommended that they be inspected frequently to check that the vents are operating properly.

Above all never use cleaners in saunas. Germs will be killed by the heat, but cleaners leave a residue that can give off very nasty fumes once the sauna is heated once more. Be especially careful to not use ammonia products, as this will discolor the wood and once more beware of fumes.

When cleaning saunas, a stiff brush should be used on all the wooden surfaces, thus making sure that bacteria or fungus cannot grow on the wood. Once it is completely cleaned, be sure to air it dry.