Harvia Paraffin Oil For Sauna

Instructions for Sauna Care and Maintenance

Treatment of wooden surfaces  in the sauna

Before using the sauna 

Before using the sauna, make sure that ventilation has been built according to the current standards. Additional information can be found with your sauna heater manual, or set up a planning session with Sauna Marketplace staff.

In a family sauna, it's unnecessary to protect the wall surfaces with any substances. But if you want ease of cleaning and to keep your sauna looking new, then a product made for the sauna is critical. Never use lacquer inside the sauna. 

Harvia recommends home and commercial saunas to protect the benches and backrests with ample paraffin oil.

It reduces the absorption of moisture and dirt into wood and extends life of your sauna before it would require sanding down and refinishing.

Repeat the treatment 1–3 times a  year, depending on how often the sauna is used.  Paraffin oil treatment also highlights different tones of wood, so try it on a scrap piece of wood first.

Use of the sauna 

Wash yourself before using the sauna. Always use a bench towel to protect the benches. Wooden surfaces can effectively tolerate moisture which drains from clean skin and usually this does not  leave any marks. Try to avoid watering wooden surfaces besides when cleaning the sauna. 

Careful ladle use or a Harvia Autodose helps to keep the water on rocks without splashing walls or pooling excess water on floor.

Be careful not to smear wooden surfaces when using sauna scents or oils. Also remove leaves from sauna whisks from wooden surfaces as soon as possible. 

After bathing in the sauna 

Remove the bench towels and bucket from the benches and wipe away water drops. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

We recommend sauna cleaning products designed for saunas, which can be found on Sauna Marketplace.  Otherwise be sure to use filtered or distilled water to avoid creating marks and problems with hard water.

Ensure the sauna is completely dry after use by leaving the stove on for a while (about 10 minutes). Dry water drops from the heater surface are also recommended. 

Open the ventilation hole and leave the sauna door open. If necessary, use the stove’s dehumidifying function if it is fitted with one. 

Harvia’s sauna tips 

✔ Make sure that your sauna is properly  ventilated. 

✔ In a family sauna, it is not necessary to protect wall surfaces with any substances.  If you want to protect wooden surfaces,  choose substances that are recommended by specialists and are suitable for the sauna. 

✔ We recommend you use protection treatment for benches like Paraffin Oil.

✔ Wash yourself before going to the sauna and cover the benches with bench towels.  Dry and ventilate the sauna room after use. 

✔ Thorough cleaning 1–3 times a year is enough if the sauna is for normal family use. Use cleaning products suitable found on Sauna Marketplace. 

Basic cleaning 

A family sauna should be cleaned 1–3 times a year  with a reasonable amount of water and detergent.  Suitable detergents are slightly alkaline (pH 8–10)  products, such as Harvia Sauna Cleanser. In addition, a light sanding with a fine sandpaper can be performed. After cleaning, ensure the  sauna is completely dry by turning the heater on for a while and ventilating. 

Protecting the wood surfaces with paraffin oil reduces the amount of moisture and dirt absorbed by the wood and enhances the shades of the wood surfaces. Paraffin oil is suitable for all wooden surfaces but is particularly recommended for heat-treated wood and alder. Test the oil on the undersurface of a bench first to see how the wood shade changes and whether the new shade is what you want. Wood is always unique, and result can be affected by things like the age, porosity and the original shade of the surface.

The wood surfaces must be completely dry before you start the treatment. Put the gloves on to protect your hands, pour the paraffin oil onto the sponge, and apply evenly. Make sure you treat the end parts of the benches extremely well, as this is where water absorption is greatest. Let it stand for 30 minutes – 1 hour and then wipe the surface dry if necessary. Heating up the sauna speeds up the drying process.