As mentioned in the article 'Will mould grow in my Sauna?', cedar wood is naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal, preventing mould and bacteria build-up within the sauna. This is the reason why cedar is the preferred choice in saunas.
The occurrence of mould is very rare and in all cases, it is due to the sauna not being dried properly (sweat/moisture) after use. This is not to say that you are not cleaning your sauna properly – sweat/moisture may have dripped down the back of the sauna for a period of time and it is a difficult area to clean. If your hand is not on the towel sweat can run off your wrist hand and onto the wood. This can also be the case if there is a gap between the upper towel on the backrest and the bench.
Our solution is to heat the sauna at maximum temperature for 2-3hrs. The most ideal living conditions for mould are warm environments with temperatures between 25°C to 35°C. Heating the sauna for a couple of hours at over 60°C will kill off the mould (if it is mould).
We then recommend treating the area. There are two homemade solution mixtures that help to remove mould - tea tree oil-warm water solution or a vinegar-warm water solution, both applied using a spray bottle, the latter being more effective.
There are other products readily available on the market that can be applied directly (non-natural solutions).
- Please use gloves when carrying out the above.
- Apply solution using a spray bottle.
- Use a soft brush to scrub it in.
- Use 100-grit sandpaper to rub out the affected portion.
Finally, we recommend sanding down the wood to try to bring it back to its natural colour using a 150 grit sandpaper. The stains may still be visible.