Why You Should Never Use Vinegar or Bleach to Clean Your Sauna
It might be tempting to grab what’s under the kitchen sink and give your sauna a quick wipe-down, but here’s the hard truth: vinegar and bleach are not safe for sauna cleaning. In fact, they could be damaging your wood, compromising air quality, and shortening your sauna’s lifespan.
Why Vinegar Is a Problem in Saunas
While vinegar is often hailed as a “natural” cleaner, it’s not ideal for the high-heat, porous surfaces inside a sauna. Here’s why:
- 🥴 Lingering Smell: Vinegar's pungent odor can be absorbed into cedar, hemlock, and basswood and then reactivated when heated.
- 🪵 Wood Damage: Acidity can slowly degrade the natural oils in sauna wood, increasing splintering and warping risk.
- 🧖♀️ Skin & Eye Irritation: In a hot, enclosed environment, vinegar vapor can irritate sensitive users.
Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (Acetic Acid Profile)
Why Bleach Is Even Worse
Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is a heavy-duty disinfectant, but its use in a sauna is dangerous and destructive.
- ❌ Highly Corrosive: Bleach can break down sealants and compromise the wood’s structural integrity.
- ☠️ Releases Toxic Fumes: Heat increases chlorine vapor, creating respiratory risks in enclosed spaces.
- 🧬 Residue Buildup: If not fully rinsed, bleach residue can be reactivated by heat and absorbed through skin.
Source: CDC – Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home (Bleach Safety)
What to Use Instead: Plant-Based Sauna Cleaner
Your sauna deserves a cleaner designed specifically for the task. Our plant-based sauna cleaner is:
- 🌿 Wood-safe: Formulated to clean without degrading natural wood oils
- 🛡 Residue-free: Leaves no sticky film or lingering chemical odor
- 🧼 Gentle but effective: Tackles sweat, grime, and post-session buildup
- 🇺🇸 Made in the USA: Crafted in small batches by sauna lovers
It's what we use in our own saunas—because we couldn’t find anything safe and effective enough, so we made it ourselves.
Final Thoughts
If you care about your sauna, skip the vinegar and bleach. Invest in a cleaner made for heat, wood, and people. It’s a small change that pays off in longevity, comfort, and air quality.