How to use a home sauna

Before you go in

• Heat it up. Infrared cabins usually take 15 to 25 minutes and traditional saunas 20 to 45, so switch it on in time. Many controllers let you set a start time.
• Shower and dry off. It keeps the wood clean, and you'll start sweating sooner.
• Take off jewellery and glasses. Metal gets hot quickly.
• Have water to hand, a towel to sit on, and a second towel for afterwards.

A session, step by step

1. Go in and sit or lie on your towel. Heat rises, so the top bench is hottest. Lying down evens out the heat between your head and feet; if you sit, KLAFS suggests putting your feet up on the bench.
2. Stay in for about 8 to 12 minutes. That's the heating phase KLAFS recommends. On your first sessions, stay in for less time. There's no target to hit: leave when you've had enough.
3. Add steam if you like. In a traditional sauna, ladle a little water onto the hot stones. The Finns call the burst of steam löyly. It makes the air feel much hotter, so start with one ladle. See temperature and humidity.
4. Sit up for a minute before you stand. Getting up quickly from the heat can make you light-headed.
5. Cool off. Step outside or into a cooler room and keep moving gently. A cool shower is the gentlest option. KLAFS suggests cooling off for 12 to 20 minutes, before you start to shiver.
6. Rest, then repeat if you want. Two or three rounds is common. Rest properly after the last one before getting dressed.

Using an infrared sauna

An infrared cabin works the same way, but runs cooler, at about 43 to 57°C, so sessions are usually longer and there are no stones or steam. Sit facing the panels, keep the door closed, and follow the cabin's own guidance on session length.

Afterwards

• Wipe the benches and dry off any water on the heater's casing.
• Dry the wood. Harvia suggests leaving the heater on for about 10 minutes after the last session, then opening the vent and leaving the door half open.
• Hang towels outside the sauna to dry.

See cleaning and maintenance for the deeper clean.