Cleaning a sauna between guests

A sauna is one of the easier things on a turnover list, as long as it gets the same few jobs every time. Most of the work is letting it dry and keeping the wood clean. Here's a routine your cleaner can follow, and the jobs that come round less often.

Always start from the maker's manual for your model. Where a maker sets a rule, that rule wins.

At every turnover

Step 1: Make sure it's off and cool

Check the heater is off. With a Wi-Fi control such as the HUUM UKU Wi-Fi, you can confirm it from your phone. Let the heater and stones cool before anyone cleans near them.

Step 2: Open it up and let it dry

Prop the door open and open the vents. Wood that dries fully between uses stays clean longer. If the next guests arrive the same day, open it up first and clean last, so it has as long as possible to air out.

Step 3: Clear it out

Take out towels, cups and anything guests left. Empty the bucket and leave it to dry with the scoop. Nothing should be left on or near the heater.

Step 4: Sweep and rinse the floor

Sweep or vacuum the floor, then rinse it if the maker allows. On the SaunaLife Ergo barrels, check that both floor drains are clear.

Step 5: Wipe the benches and backrests

Wipe them down with a clean cloth and plain water. Golden Designs says no cleaning agents inside its saunas, only a cloth and water. Check your manual before using anything else on the wood of another brand.

Step 6: Check the stones and the heater

Look for cracked or crumbled stones and take them out. If your model has a heater guard, check it's in place, and that nothing is touching the heater.

Step 7: Reset for the next guests

Put back fresh bench towels if you supply them, a full water bucket and the guest card. If you pre-heat before check-in, set the delayed start on the control now.

Every week or so

• Wipe the glass door and windows inside and out.
• Check the door closes freely and the handle is tight.
• Look at the benches for stains or rough spots. A light sanding with fine sandpaper is the usual fix for wood; check the manual first.
• Clear leaves and debris from the roof, the vents and around the base.

Through the season

• SaunaLife barrels and the R3 shower: use the paraffin oil that comes in the kit to keep the wood in condition.
• SaunaLife Black finish: SaunaLife recommends re-applying the black paint once a year as needed.
• Stones: re-stack them now and then so air can move between them, and replace any that break down. The Harvia listing suggests having a spare box so you can pick stones that fit well.
• Wood stove: clear the ash after use and have the chimney checked on the schedule in HUUM's manual and your local rules.

The cold plunge

• Keep the cover closed and latched between guests.
• Swap the 20-micron filters as they load up. One spare comes in the box.
• Check the water level and the set temperature in the app before each check-in.

The outdoor shower

On the SaunaLife Rain R3, lift the mat to rinse the floor channels, and drain the lines before a hard freeze.

House rules that keep the cleaning down

A few lines on your guest rules sign save your cleaner time: sit on a towel, rinse off before the first round, keep drinks in plastic outside the sauna, and take everything out when you leave. The guest rules sign in our Host Launch Pack has room for them, and the pack's cleaner's checklist puts this routine on one page for your model.