How do you maintain a sauna's wood?

Leave interior wood bare, dry the cabin after every session, clean with warm water and a soft brush, and sand benches lightly with fine paper once or twice a year. Treat only the exterior, with the product the manufacturer specifies.

How often should you replace sauna stones?

Inspect once or twice a year: discard cracked, crumbling, or scaled stones and reload the rest loosely. Full replacement is typically every few years depending on use.

Should I stain or oil the outside of my sauna?

Yes, with the exterior product the manufacturer specifies, applied after the first season and renewed every one to two years. Never on the inside.

Why do sauna benches turn dark?

Moisture left in the wood after sessions, and sweat. Use a towel, dry the cabin after use, and sand lightly to restore the surface.

How do I get rid of a stale smell in my sauna?

Improve drying: open the door and vents after each session, confirm vents are unobstructed, lift and dry the duckboards, and check the floor for standing water.

How often should a wood-burning sauna chimney be swept?

At least annually, and more often with heavy use. Inspect the firebox, grate, and door seal at the same time.

The Cabin Sauna Maintenance Protocol: Wood, Stones, Ventilation, and Weather

A well-kept timber sauna outlasts the people who built it. The maintenance is not complicated, but it is regular: dry the interior after every use, keep the stones and heater in order, and treat the outside against weather on a schedule. This is the protocol.

Editorial guidance · Teak & Marble Atelier Reviewed 2026-09-05 Companion video: The Cabin Sauna Maintenance Protocol (1–2 min)

Companion video — The Cabin Sauna Maintenance Protocol · 1–2 min

After every session

Rinse the benches with clean water if they have been sat on bare, wipe them down, and leave the door and vents open until the interior is dry. Moisture that stays in the wood overnight is what darkens benches and encourages mildew. A towel under each bather during the session is the single habit that keeps benches looking new. Never leave wet towels or a wet whisk in the cabin.

Interior wood

Keep it bareInterior wood is left untreated. No oil, stain, varnish, or sealer inside: finishes prevent the wood from breathing and can off-gas at sauna temperatures.
Clean gentlyWarm water and a soft brush; a mild soap the manufacturer approves if needed; rinse and dry. No bleach, no solvents, no pressure washing inside.
Sand when neededSweat stains and greying on benches lift with fine sandpaper (around 220-grit) worked lightly along the grain. Once or twice a year is typical for a well-used sauna.
Watch the floorDuckboards should be lifted and dried periodically; the floor beneath should never hold standing water. Improve drainage or ventilation if it does.

Stones and heater

Sauna stones crack and crumble over years of heating and dousing. Once or twice a year, with the heater cold, unload the stones, discard any that are cracked, crumbling, or coated in scale, rinse the rest, and reload loosely so air and steam can move through them. A heater with degraded stones gives poor löyly and can overheat its elements.

While the stones are out, inspect electric heating elements for warping, scale, or discoloration; inspect a wood-burning heater's firebox, grate, and door seal, and have the chimney swept at least annually. Confirm the heater guard is secure and that clearances to wood have not been reduced by anything added to the cabin since it was built. Electrical faults are for a licensed electrician; see our Warranty Policy for coverage.

Ventilation and structure

Check that inlet and outlet vents are open and unobstructed every few weeks. Poor ventilation shows up as a stale smell, slow drying, and a heater that seems weaker than it is. Twice a year, check the door for smooth swing and a good seal, tighten bench supports and backrests by hand, look at the interior for any board that has cupped or loosened, and check the roof from inside for daylight at seams after heavy weather.

Interlocking timber walls settle in their first year. Some kits provide adjustment for this; follow the manufacturer's instructions rather than forcing anything.

Exterior weatherproofing

The outside is the only part that gets treated
When	Task
First season	Apply the exterior stain, oil, or UV protectant the manufacturer specifies to all exterior faces once the timber has settled and dried. Keep every drop off the interior.
Every 1–2 years	Wash the exterior with mild soap and water, let it dry fully, and re-treat. Exposed sunny faces weather fastest and may want annual attention.
Spring and autumn	Clear the roof and gutters (if fitted) of leaves and needles; check roofing for lifted shingles or membrane; confirm the pad drains away from the base; look for insect or rodent activity under the floor.
After storms	Check the roof and the door; brush heavy snow from a flat or low-pitched roof.

Choosing a wood species with maintenance in mind?

Cedar, thermowood, and spruce weather differently and want different exterior treatment. Our concierge will match the species and finish schedule to your climate before you choose a cabin.

Speak with our concierge · View the traditional saunas collection

Common questions

How do you maintain a sauna's wood?: Leave interior wood bare, dry the cabin after every session, clean with warm water and a soft brush, and sand benches lightly with fine paper once or twice a year. Treat only the exterior, with the product the manufacturer specifies.
How often should you replace sauna stones?: Inspect once or twice a year: discard cracked, crumbling, or scaled stones and reload the rest loosely. Full replacement is typically every few years depending on use.
Should I stain or oil the outside of my sauna?: Yes, with the exterior product the manufacturer specifies, applied after the first season and renewed every one to two years. Never on the inside.
Why do sauna benches turn dark?: Moisture left in the wood after sessions, and sweat. Use a towel, dry the cabin after use, and sand lightly to restore the surface.
How do I get rid of a stale smell in my sauna?: Improve drying: open the door and vents after each session, confirm vents are unobstructed, lift and dry the duckboards, and check the floor for standing water.
How often should a wood-burning sauna chimney be swept?: At least annually, and more often with heavy use. Inspect the firebox, grate, and door seal at the same time.
Do timber sauna walls settle?: Yes, in the first year. Some kits include adjustment for this; follow the manufacturer's instructions and do not force boards.

Related guides

The information on this page is provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.

Always consult a qualified, licensed healthcare professional before beginning any new wellness practice, thermal therapy protocol, or cold exposure regimen — particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition, are pregnant, or are taking prescription medications.

These products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Teak & Marble Atelier products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.

Planning a plunge or sauna for your own space? Speak with our concierge at concierge@teakandmarbleatelier.com or 631-212-TEAK