How to Maintain Your Leisurecraft Cedar Sauna: A Complete Care Guide for Home Owners

There is nothing quite like stepping into a warm cedar sauna, especially during a crisp autumn or in the middle of a cold Ontario winter.

At Main Street Pool & Spa, we proudly carry Dundalk Leisurecraft saunas because they are masterfully crafted right here in Ontario using premium, sustainably sourced Canadian cedar. Built to handle everything from muggy summer humidity to deep winter freeze-thaw cycles, a Leisurecraft sauna is a true backyard investment.

However, natural cedar is a living material that requires proper care to keep it looking beautiful, smelling aromatic, and operating efficiently for decades.

Whether you have a Leisurecraft barrel sauna, cabin, or pod in Uxbridge, Port Perry, Muskoka, or beyond, here is your definitive guide to routine care, seasonal maintenance, and keeping your sauna in peak condition year-round.

The #1 Rule of Cedar Sauna Maintenance: Never Paint or Stain the Interior

Before diving into cleaning routines, let’s start with the golden rule of cedar saunas: never apply paint, polyurethane, varnish, or traditional wood stain to the interior surfaces.

Eastern White Cedar and Western Red Cedar are naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage. The untreated wood needs to "breathe"—absorbing and slowly releasing steam and heat.

Applying an artificial sealer to the inside will:

1. Trap moisture and cause the wood to warp or rot from the inside out.
2. Make the wood surface uncomfortably hot to touch.
3. Release harmful chemical fumes into the air when the heater reaches high temperatures.

Note: The only interior exceptions are the door handle and the floor grates (duckboards), which can be treated with specialized, non-toxic paraffin oil to prevent heavy foot-traffic dirt from setting in.

1. Daily & Post-Use Routine (Takes Under 2 Minutes)

A little effort after each sweat session prevents sweat stains and moisture buildup before they start.

• Sit on a Towel: Always place a clean towel on the benches where you sit and rest your feet. This simple habit absorbs sweat, body oils, and dead skin, keeping the cedar raw and fresh.
• Wipe Down the Wood: Keep a small hand brush or clean microfiber towel inside the sauna. Before leaving, dip it in plain warm water and do a quick wipe-down of the benches and backrests.
• Ventilate and Dry: Leave the sauna door open for 20–30 minutes after your session. The residual heat left in the stones and walls will evaporate remaining humidity while fresh air circulates through, preventing mildew growth.

2. Monthly Interior Cleaning & Stain Removal

Even with towels, cedar benches naturally pick up dirt, oils, and perspiration marks over time.

How to Clean Cedar Benches & Walls

1. Sweep or Vacuum: Remove dust, pine needles, and dirt tracked in from the backyard.
2. Scrub Gently: Mix a mild solution of warm water and a few drops of dish soap or baking soda (1 tablespoon per gallon of water). Avoid harsh household cleaners, bleach, or ammonia.
3. Use a Soft-Bristle Brush: Scrub along the natural grain of the cedar wood. Rinse with a damp cloth—never use a high-pressure hose inside your sauna.
4. Air Dry: Keep the door wide open until the wood is completely dry.

Tackling Tough Stains or Rough Spots

If you develop stubborn sweat stains or minor surface discoloration, don't worry—cedar is very forgiving:

• Sand Lightly: Take a piece of fine-grit sandpaper (120–220 grit) and lightly sand along the grain of the bench once a year. This removes the top micro-layer of stained wood, eliminating surface marks and restoring that rich, fresh cedar aroma.

3. Care for Your Sauna Heater & Rocks

Your heating element is the heart of your Leisurecraft sauna—whether you operate a Harvia electric heater or a wood-burning stove.

• Inspect the Rocks (Monthly): Sauna stones endure extreme thermal shock from heat and water. Over time, they can crack, crumble, or shift. Inspect your rocks monthly; remove any broken fragments and wash dust off the remaining stones.
• Stack Rocks Loosely: When placing stones back around the heating elements, stack them loosely to allow optimal airflow. Dense packing forces the electric elements to overheat and burn out prematurely.
• Use Clean Water: Always use soft, clean water on your sauna stones. Hard water loaded with calcium and minerals leaves white lime deposits on the rocks and metal elements.

4. Protecting the Cedar Exterior (Ontario Weather Prep)

While the interior remains raw, the exterior of your outdoor Leisurecraft sauna takes the brunt of Ontario’s harsh weather—from intense summer UV rays to freezing rain and ice buildup.

UV Protection and Exterior Oils

Left untreated, outdoor cedar naturally oxidizes over 1–2 years into a soft, silvery-grey patina. This weathering is purely cosmetic and does not harm the wood's structural integrity.

• If you want to keep the warm, reddish cedar tone: Apply an exterior wood finish with built-in UV inhibitors, or treat it with a natural, breathable exterior oil once a year (typically in late spring or autumn).
• Barrel Sauna Bands: On Leisurecraft barrel saunas, check the stainless steel structural bands twice a year. During seasonal humidity swings, cedar expands and contracts. Tighten or loosen the band nuts slightly as needed to keep staves snug without binding.

Seasonal Care Quick Guide

Season	Key Focus Area	Routine Action
Spring	Exterior Wash & Inspection	Lightly hose down the exterior; check door alignment and hinges after frost thaws.
Summer	Dust & Debris Control	Vacuum floors often to stop dirt and grass from being tracked inside barefoot.
Fall	Pre-Winter Deep Clean	Lightly sand interior benches, inspect heater rocks, and clear external vents of leaves.
Winter	Ventilation & Snow Clear	Clear snow away from the door and heater exhaust vents; keep air vents unobstructed.

Common Sauna Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a Pressure Washer Inside: High pressure gouges the soft cedar fibers and causes permanent surface splintering.
• Applying Tile/Glass Cleaners: Chemical fumes linger in cedar pores and off-gas when heated, causing eye and lung irritation.
• Leaving Wet Towels Inside: Trapped moisture between a wet towel and a bench is the #1 cause of mold and surface blackening.

Elevate Your Backyard Wellness Experience with Main Street Pool & Spa

Maintaining your Leisurecraft sauna takes only a few simple habits, but keeping your entire backyard wellness retreat running smoothly is where we come in.

Whether you are looking to purchase a new Dundalk Leisurecraft sauna, need replacement sauna rocks, or want expert advice on combining your hot tub, cold plunge, and sauna into a complete year-round home spa, our team is here to help.

Need expert advice or accessories for your backyard sauna?

Visit our showroom at 37 Main Street North in Uxbridge, or give our local experts a call at 905-862-4040 today. We proudly service homeowners across Uxbridge, Port Perry, Whitby, Oshawa, Brooklin, and throughout the Durham Region.

Backyards, Built Right.