In this article How to treat sauna wood with oil, I will tell you what to do when you want to oil your sauna benches. I also tell the benefits and why that is good for your sauna.
Why to treat sauna wood with oil
Using oil to protect your sauna benches divides people’s opinions. There are two sorts of sauna owners; those who never use oil and those who swear by it. Everyone is of course entitled to have their own opinion, here are just my thoughts on the topic.
When I first looked into sauna oils, I was a bit unsure about what I should do. In the end, I decided to take the plunge and used oil on the benches of our sauna. I am very pleased with the results and would recommend you give it a try, too!
You should only use oil on the benches once or maybe twice a year, so the whole process is not really that time-consuming. The oil also protects the benches against dirt and humidity and gives them (in my opinion) a nice colour and sheen.
The oil deepens the natural colour of the wood and makes it a bit darker, so if you are unsure about the darker tone, test the oil first on a piece of wood. It takes about two days before you can see the finished results.
It is important that you use protective oil only on freshly washed and cleaned sauna surfaces! You can find my best sauna-cleaning tips.
Read more: How to clean the sauna.
How to treat sauna wood with oil
Here is how you use protective oil on your sauna benches:
- Heat the sauna and oil to 40 degrees Celsius. The warmth will help to open grain of the wood and the oil will absorb better.
- Use a sponge or a brush to evenly spread the oil. Make sure to use oil on both sides of the benches. It might be a good idea to start from the top.
- Use the oil on all the wooden surfaces; benches, back- and headrests.
- Let the oil absorb for 1 to 2 hours.
- Use a lint-free cloth to wipe off the excess oil.
- Make sure all the oil is well-absorbed before you heat your sauna next.
What is the best oil for your sauna benches?
Paraffin oil is a pure, completely color, fragrance and toxin free oil for wood surfaces. It is suitable for various wood surfaces including the sauna benches and wood paneling. It is especially suitable for thermally-treated wood and European Alder panelling. It is important to use paraffin oil as it is the only oil suitable for sauna surfaces.
Not sure where you can order paraffin oil? I have good news; you can now order paraffin oil from my Sauna Shop! I ship sauna products to Europe, USA and Canada directly from Germany. Worldwide delivery is possible, please contact us for more information.
Order here: Sauna-Shop
With love, Sauna-Kati
