Simple Home Sauna Care and Maintenance

Saunas are a great way to relax and unwind after a long day at the office. It is especially good for tight muscles and detoxing. What happens when your sauna starts to get an odor, or what can you do to be proactive and keep up regular maintenance on your sauna? This is actually easier than you may think with a little elbow grease and several products. You will have the cleanest sauna in the area.

Regular maintenance is not too involved, but can be important to keep it clean and running properly. You can try to use a broom and vacuum for basic cleaning, as well as do a quick clean up of the floors and benches.

Keep a stack of towels outside your sauna for easy access to use for sitting on while using the sauna. This will protect the wood from your body sweat, and help keep the sauna clean. It is best to make sure these towels are not washed in harsh detergents to protect the wood as well.

Protecting the sauna wood should be one of your highest priorities when maintaining the sauna. Start by treating your sauna benches, backrests and other areas with sauna bench wood oil. A weekly schedule of cleaning the wood works best to make sure it is cleaned regularly and maintained, unless you do not use your sauna as often. Purchase a mild detergent and mix with water, and use a sponge to liberally wash the wood on the floor and benches. After you have washed the wood, take a towel to wipe the wood dry.

If the wood begins to become discolored due to excessive use, you can use light grade sand paper and slowly brush away the discoloration. This can give your sauna wood a refreshed look.

You should also maintain your sauna heater. If your sauna uses a wood burning heater, you will need to constantly remove the ash build-up. You should also periodically check the exhaust pipe to make sure that there is no creosote build-up. This can be a major fire hazard so this is a great thing to check often.

If you are running off an electric heater, the maintenance is easier as all you have to do if occasionally wipe off the heater to keep any build-up under control.

Finally, if your sauna heater has sauna stones, you need to examine them weekly to make sure none of the stones have cracked. If there are any cracked stones, they should be removed and replaced.

Saunas And Stuff supplies cleaning supplies and sauna stones to keep your sauna in great shape for unlimited use. You will have the cleanest sauna on the block and people will feel excited to join you in regular sauna relaxation sessions.

Home Sauna Kits: Pre-Built VS Pre-Cut

Today’s consumers have the luxury of choice with many of their purchase decisions, and saunas are certainly no exception. With such a wide variety on the market many shoppers can get lost in the mix. So where do you start and what kind do you get? Two of the most popular traditional rock sauna styles we offer are pre-built saunas and pre-cut saunas. These two types of sauna kits get mixed up all the time so we want our customers to be educated about the differences so they can make the most qualified purchase decision this holiday season.

Pre-Built Traditional Rock Saunas

Pre-built sauna kits come in an easy-to-assemble kit and are self-contained, freestanding units. These modular, prefabricated wall units fit together easily and provide greater flexibility in terms of being portable. You can take these saunas with you when you move, so they make a great option for someone who relocates often. Sauna assembly can vary by room size and shape, and these can take as little as one to two hours to put together. Then you are ready to relax and sweat away the toxins!

Pre-built saunas come in a variety of sizes ranging from a 4 x 4 foot room suitable for two people to a 9 x 10 foot family sauna, and larger. The pre-built wall and ceiling panels are made from Grade A Clear Western cedar wood and are also available in fir, poplar or spruce. Assembly is further simplified with pre-built sauna benches, a pre-installed door and all the parts and accessories needed to complete your installation.

These pre-built (also called prefabricated) home saunas can be installed indoors or outdoors. If you want to install it indoors, we suggest you assemble the steam sauna room on a waterproof surface such as tile, concrete or linoleum. For the outdoors, a poured concrete slab is the best. Roof kits are also available to convert an inside sauna into an outdoor sauna. We advise you to apply a water sealant to the exterior wood to protect the walls from the elements if you are converting from an indoor to an outdoor sauna.


Pre-Cut Traditional Rock Saunas
Pre-cut sauna kits are made for converting an existing room, large closet or old laundry room/bathroom into a sauna. These are great for the do-it-yourself-er that wants to be actively involved with the assembly of their new sauna, as well as save money. You need to build an insulated stud frame room to install the sauna kit if you don’t have a good-sized area available for the sauna.

For the pre-cut sauna kit, you are required to provide the structural framing, insulation, vapor barrier and exterior paneling. Everything else that you need to line the inside of the room with cedar, as well as a pre-hung door, pre-built benches and duck board floor, bucket, ladle, wall light and more are supplied in the kit.

These offer a variety of different design options and allow the customer to put their own personal touch on the sauna. The options are endless!

With the holidays coming up a new sauna would be the perfect addition to your house or condo. They offer a great way for the family to spend quality time together while relaxing and benefiting their health. What are you waiting for? Grab either your pre-built or pre-cut sauna kit from www.saunasandstuff.com today! If you are just looking for a sauna heater, check out our full line of Tylo models.

Hot Sauna Trends to Watch For

Saunas have been gaining popularity in the last several years. North America is taking a cue from the Finnish and reaping the many health benefits of saunas. Whether you want to buy an infrared sauna or a traditional hot rock steam sauna, there are many different options to choose from. Saunas continue to adapt and evolve with new designs and trends popping up across the nation.

The following are some trends we are seeing in 2011 in the sauna industry:

• The top trend that continues to evolve with saunas is design. People are beginning to customize sauna kits to fit their taste and style, as well as the overall feel and design of the interior of their home. The individualization of the sauna includes using new materials to help the environment (for the eco-friendly) or the use of exotic stones (for the discerning) are coming into play.

• This year has also brought in the evolution of smell. The use of fragrance or essential oils is beginning to allow users to personalize their sauna experience for a particular time of day or feel. Using citrus scents in the morning allows the sauna user to make up and prepare for the day, or relaxing lavender after a day of stress or for anyone that needs an enhanced complete relaxation moment.

• New LED technology changes the use of lights, allowing for an even more serene sauna experience. The use of a “starry sky” or new illuminated elements allows the sauna user to personalize the sauna or add new lighting elements to make the experience one to remember.

• A future trend sauna users should be on the lookout for is the control technology. The introduction of a sauna remote that can be used in multiple locations may allow sauna users to heat up their sauna in the basement from the comfort of their office upstairs. Users may also be able to program the sauna to begin heating up at a certain time during the day, like 10 minutes before lunch so it is ready for your lunch break.

The use and popularity of saunas is widespread, and it might be a great way for you to spruce up your home. The personalization of the sauna is now more available than ever, offering multiple options to make your new sauna to fit right in your home. Contact SaunasAndStuff.com to discuss our many options and which sauna will be the best one for you.

Demystifying the Health Risks and Health Benefits of Saunas

There are many articles out there about the alleged health risks of Saunas, and for every one of these articles there is another one stating all of the health benefits of saunas. With such conflicting pieces of information, many people do not know what to believe.
We at www.SaunasAndStuff.com would like to help demystify the health risks of saunas and give you some facts about the risks:

• Cooling down is as important as the heating process in your sauna session. It is safe to take a few moments after exiting the sauna before entering a cold plunge in a pool or shower. After your session you can turn the sauna off, open the door slightly, and allow your body to cool down for 10 minutes. If you shiver afterward, it is a sign of the automatic responses of your body trying to warm itself back up. You may want to reenter the sauna and allow your body to cool longer afterward. If you ever feel slightly sick after using the sauna, a less hot sauna and warmer, longer cool down is suggested for future use. Sleep disturbances can also occur if your body is not cooled down properly, so give yourself sufficient time to cool down after using the sauna.

• Prolonged stays in the sauna may lead to the loss of electrolytes from the body, which is similar to what can happen to your body after rigorous exercise. Risks of dehydration leading to heat stroke can occur if you are not hydrating enough. Always drink plenty of fluids before, during and after using the sauna. Using the sauna during alcohol withdrawal or while “hung over” can also cause dehydration, so it is not recommended to use the sauna after a night of drinking.

• Ease yourself into regular sauna use slowly to lower the risks. Start with short intervals once or twice a week, and work up from there. And always remember, if at any time during your sauna session you feel dizzy, sleepy or any discomfort, exit the sauna immediately.

Saunas have many health benefits and should be used correctly to eliminate any risks associated with them. Please submit any additional questions to www.SaunasAndStuff.com to answer. We support using saunas safely to maximize the health benefits!

The Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Everyone strives to be healthy and happy. Infrared Saunas can help you achieve this goal with the many health benefits they offer. They can lower your blood pressure, aid in weight loss, and extend your life. Mainstream media is finally giving infrared saunas the attention they deserve, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The following are some unique health benefits that infrared saunas provide users:

Lower Blood Pressure
Infrared saunas are different from normal saunas in that they make the same rays that come from the sun without the UV radiation, leaving only the infrared rays. These rays are then lightly absorbed into the skin. Dr. Oz mentions the reason heating the body is important is that it is shown that people who take saunas a couple of times per week actually drop their blood pressure. The infrared sauna environment in which they are lowering their blood pressure is a more comfortable temperature than sitting in a heated traditional sauna environment. These saunas excel due to the fact that they do not hurt your lungs if you take a deep breath.

Detoxification
We spoke about the benefits infrared saunas have on detoxification in our Sauna FAQ. The main thing we want to stress is to wash your skin once you exit the sauna to get the toxins off your skin and refresh your system.

Weight Loss
We also mentioned the benefits of weight loss that come from using an infrared sauna in our Sauna FAQ. Since it increases blood circulation, makes your heart beat faster and gets you to burn more calories. Hats off to burning calories!

Extend Your Life
A major benefit is helping to extend your life. Medical researchers have long been reporting on the health benefits of infrared sauna therapy. It helps support those who suffer from fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even autism. The circulatory and blood pressure lowering benefits are a major plus! Another benefit that helps to extend your life, and the overall quality of your life, is the fact that saunas aid in relaxation. With all the stress being experienced and the fast pace of life, saunas help you take a moment and fully relax. The heat also helps bring that relaxation to a heightened stage of completion.

In 2011, if you want to help your health and quality of life, visit your sauna for relaxation, weight loss, detoxify, and lowered blood pressure. Visit www.SaunasAndStuff.com to see the many different types of saunas and infrared sauna kits we offer.
 

Buying a Sauna to Help with New Years Resolutions

Each New Year we examine our lives to figure out the things we want to change and write a list to start overhauling everything right after that ball drops and we fight off any pending hangovers. Have you ever thought that buying a sauna might help you achieve some of those goals?

Weight Loss with Saunas
Saunas can be amazing partners to help you achieve your weight loss goals. One sauna session can help you burn more than 600 calories, which is equivalent to 30 minutes of rowing at the gym or an hour on the treadmill. The heat from the infrared sauna penetrates below the skin to break down the fat and water particles in your skin, helping to burn calories and accelerate weight loss. It is a great alternative to physical exercise for those who are unable to exert themselves.

Expel Toxins with Saunas
At most spas, you will find hot tubs and saunas as a fixture. Besides relaxation, these devices help expel toxins from your skin. When toxins are present in our body, blood circulation is blocked and cellular energy is impaired. The body’s immune system is inhibited due to toxins, making it difficult to fight disease. When infrared sauna heat is applied, the large water molecules in our bodies that contain toxic gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, lead, mercury and chlorine vibrate are broken down. The encapsulated toxic materials and gases are then released, expelling these toxins. Some experts in weight loss believe our bodies use fat to dilute toxins. Since infrared saunas excel at helping rid your body of toxins, you are burning fat that is being used to dilute toxins in the process.

Saunas Help Relieve Pain from New Years Work Outs
Many people in the New Year head to the gym to work out, lose weight and feel great. By day three, their bodies are sore and in need of heating pads…or saunas. Infrared Saunas are the answer to your prayers. Heat has been shown to reduce pain sensation by direct action on both free-nerve endings in tissues and on peripheral nerves. Many athletes sit in the sauna or hot tub to relieve sore muscles and alleviate pain.

So if you are now beginning to conquer your New Year Resolutions, plan to buy a sauna or hot tub. Buying an infrared sauna or hot rock sauna just might help you get closer to your goals than you ever thought. Add purchasing a sauna from SaunasAndStuff.com to the top of your list.