Tips on how to prepare your indoor and outdoor sauna for the winter months. 

Winter is right around the corner. For some of us, it’s already here! Whether you enjoy an outdoor barrel or cabin sauna, or stay inside with an indoor sauna, it’s important to maintain your sauna. With proper attention and a little bit of TLC, you can keep your sauna looking and working perfectly all year long. 

How to winterize your indoor sauna? 

The good news is that because indoor saunas don’t need protection from the elements, they won’t require much winter maintenance. The changing season is just a good reminder to do some basic TLC. Here are a few ways to keep your indoor sauna looking and feeling like new:

• Periodically sweep and vacuum any loose dirt or dust from the interior of your sauna 

• Use a mild solution of baking soda and water to lightly scrub benches and other surfaces, then rinse. Adding a few drops of lemon essential oil can act as a natural disinfectant and add a pleasant aroma to the cleaning process.

• Tough stains on benches? Use a fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand down trouble spots

• Mop the floor or wipe with a damp cloth periodically 

• Sauna heaters require little maintenance, but make sure to check your sauna stones for splitting and cracks every so often.

How to winterize your outdoor sauna?

At Almost Heaven Saunas, only the highest quality materials are used to make up our sauna kits. Barrel and cabin saunas are designed using Nordic Spruce, Red Cedar, or Hemlock Fir. These durable lumbers are naturally insulating and can withstand a variety of elements: sun exposure, wind, rain, snow, and anything else winter might throw at them. However, there are still a few ways you can help to expand the life of your sauna. Here’s how: 

• Periodically sweep and vacuum any loose dirt, dust, tracked-in leaves from the interior of your sauna 

• Use a mild solution of baking soda and water to lightly scrub benches and other surfaces, then rinse. Adding a few drops of lemon essential oil can act as a natural disinfectant and add a pleasant aroma to the cleaning process. 

• Tough stains on benches? Use a fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand down trouble spots

• Mop the floor or wipe with a damp cloth periodically 

• Sauna heaters require little maintenance, but make sure to check your sauna stones for splitting and cracks every so often.

• Check sauna staves. Make sure the exterior of your barrel is tightly sealed and staves are snug. Tighten any loose fitting staves, or add an extra stave if needed. 

• Add an attractive UV- resistant rain jacket to help repel water and snow from the top of the sauna. https://almostheaven.com/collections/sauna-accessories/products/barrel-sauna-rain-jacket

Note: Sauna rain jackets do not pair with wood-burning saunas with chimneys. 

The best way to maintain your sauna is by using it on a regular basis. Relax, enjoy, and don’t hesitate to call or email us with any questions you might have about winterizing your sauna!