The sauna master's 7-point checklist for spring sauna maintenance – This is how you get fresh, clean löyly.

I catch up with the sauna master in his home yard in Perho. The woodshed is full of logs and the sauna won't be heated until the evening, so he has plenty of time to give advice on the spring maintenance of a garden sauna.

According to the sauna master, spring is the best time for more thorough cleaning and maintenance of the sauna. For many, the sauna has seen little use and little cleaning over the winter.

– What could be nicer in summer than a fresh, clean sauna?

The sauna master points out that spring cleaning is about more than comfort. As an example, he mentions the condition of the heater.

– There's no point heating a worn-out heater. You might lose the chimney as well.

When washing the sauna, the sauna master advises paying particular attention to the underside of the benches, where dirt can build up unnoticed. When I ask about the right strength of detergent, the sauna master doesn't have an answer ready.

– Well, it's the missus who's washed that sauna more often. I've done it a couple of times too, but it doesn't come to mind right now.

Finally, the sauna master gives a tip on how to keep the benches as good as new for a long time.

– After washing, as much paraffin as the wood will soak up.

The sauna master's 7-point checklist for spring cleaning the sauna.

1. Check and clean the outside of the sauna. Make sure the roof is intact, the gutters are clean and the ventilation openings are unobstructed.
2. Clean the heater's firebox and check its condition. It's a good idea to look into the firebox with a torch. Burnt-through firebox walls or a cracked grate mean the heater needs replacing.
3. Check the condition of the sauna stones. Empty the stones from the heater and replace any cracked or badly limescaled stones. Clean stone chips and stone dust out of the heater. Stack the stones loosely back into the heater.
4. Check whether it's time to sweep the flue. The flue of a garden sauna in private use must be swept every three years.
5. Wash the benches, walls and floor. Use warm water, a mild detergent and a soft brush. Pay particular attention to small gaps and the undersides of the benches. Rinse well and make sure the surfaces dry, for example by heating the sauna.
6. Treat the benches with paraffin oil. Use plenty of oil and, after letting it dry for a moment, wipe off the excess. Let the oil dry well before using the sauna.
7. Heat the sauna. If you have an Ehta sauna, enjoy the unbeatable löyly 😉