What to do after a sauna session? That is actually a very important question. I am not talking about what you should eat or drink, I am talking about things you should do for your sauna’s wellbeing. In this article, I have gathered some very useful tips everyone should know.
What to do after a sauna session?
I am sure some of my readers are familiar with these tips, and you might even ask if it is necessary to discuss them. I, however, have noticed that not many people know about these rather basic steps and (I must confess) they easily slip your mind.
Even I was unsure what to do when I first got my own sauna. Especially, because my German partner gave me some quite contradictive advice. When I started collecting tips for this article, I actually had some light bulb moments: Of course! This is how and why you do it!
I had my first epiphany when I stayed in a cottage in Finland one summer. They had a little note in the sauna that said you should put more wood on the fire after you are done.
The fun reason was that you should put more wood for saunatonttu (“sauna elf” is an old Finnish mythological creature that takes care of people’s saunas). However, the more boring and official reason was that it allows the sauna to dry properly after it has been used.
There are some differences between electric and wood stove saunas, but the main rules go for both.
This is what you should do after sauna:
- Put more wood on the fire when you are done. If you have an electric stove, make sure your sauna stays heated for another 20-30 minutes after you have left.
- Empty all buckets and ladles. Turn them upside down and lay them on the benches or store them in the shower area.
- Do not rinse the benches or walls every time you have been to the sauna!
- Close all doors and windows, this helps the sauna to dry properly.
- Remove and clean all “rubbish”, for example birch leaves that have fallen on the floor.
- Do not close the air vent, you might even open it up more if possible.
These tips should help to keep your sauna healthy, avoid mold and unwanted microbe and bacteria and also prevent the benches from cracking. And of course, it means that you will always have a clean and fresh-looking sauna to come back to.
I hope this What to do after a sauna session -article is useful for you and for your sauna. With these tips your sauna lasts longer in good condition.
Can you think of any other tips?
With love,
Sauna-Kati
