How to clean a sauna suit? [+7 life hacks]

How to clean a sauna suit? A sauna suit may be a great opportunity if you are trying to make your workout more effective. Professional athletes often use sauna suits to lose a couple of pounds. A sauna suit can be a valuable weapon in your fitness arsenal. But how about cleaning?

I’ve been asked multiple times lately about the best ways to care about a sauna suit, so I developed a guide.

Let me give you guidance on how to look after your sauna suit regularly and properly. We’ll explore machine and hand washing and look at different fabrics that the suits can be made of.

Cleaning a sauna suit: a guide

I think this guide would be much simpler if sauna suits didn’t come in various materials.

Each fabric has specific care instructions that you should follow.

I don’t recommend washing a sauna suit with other clothes. Better safe than sorry.

Let’s explore how to take good care of your suit.

Neoprene sauna suits

I find neoprene suits very durable and flexible, but I still prefer hand washing for this material. Here’s how to hand wash the suit:

1. Pour lukewarm water into a washbasin and add some gentle laundry detergent (not too much.)
2. Gently hand wash the suit. Be thorough, especially with the dirtiest and sweatiest spots.
3. Rinse with cold or slightly warm water.
4. It’s best to air dry the sauna suit inside-out and in the shade.

PVC sauna suits

A great advantage of PVC suits, in my opinion, is that they are very lightweight.

They are perfect for intense training sessions with a lot of sweating. I recommend machine washing to clean them.

1. Secure the PVC suit in a laundry bag. This way, you’ll protect it during the machine wash.
2. Use cold water and a very gentle cycle for proper care.
3. Add a soft detergent to the washing machine.
4. Hang the sauna suit inside out to dry in an area with good ventilation.

Nylon sauna suits

I find nylon suits very comfortable. With nylon suits, I recommend machine wash.

1. Use a gentle spin cycle and cold water (or slightly warm water.) It’s critical because this fabric can shrink and stretch, and we don’t want that. You can go for slightly warm water though.
2. Add soft detergent (a small amount) and machine wash a sauna suit.
3. Never use a fabric softener because it can compromise the moisture-resistant qualities of nylon.
4. Tumble dry or air dry the suit but use very low heat if you go for a dryer.

Other materials

I came across sauna suits made from a combination of synthetic materials.

With them, just follow the guidelines the manufacturer provides.

In general, steer clear of harsh agents, hot water, and fabric softeners. They can be damaging to sauna suit materials. You can use slightly warm water, too.

Drying a sauna suit safely

I believe that drying your suit correctly is as important as cleaning it.

Air drying

I consider air drying the gentlest method for drying a suit. It works with all materials.

1. After you wash a sauna suit, squeeze out excess water gently. It would be best if you got rid of the water.
2. Put the suit on a clean, dry towel. It will absorb the remaining moisture.
3. Hang the suit on a clothesline or drying rack in a well-ventilated but not sunlit area.
4. Allow the suit to dry completely.

Hang drying

This is one more effective method that helps maintain the shape of your suit.

Here’s how you hang dry a suit:

1. Hang the sauna suit on a sturdy clothes hanger. Leave some space between the items.
2. Try not to use wire hangers. They may leave creases.
3. Hang dry the sauna suit in an area with good ventilation. Don’t hang it in a sunlit spot because it can make the fabric fade.
4. Let the suit dry completely.

Tumble drying

Tumble drying is an aggressive method of drying a sauna suit.

If you still choose to tumble dry it, follow these cautious steps:

1. Set the dryer to a low heat or a delicate cycle to avoid damage.
2. Put the suit in a laundry bag to protect it during drying.
3. Put several clean towels into the dryer. That will reduce the drying time.
4. Check the suit from time to time, making sure it’s drying evenly.

How to prolong the life of a sauna suit: life hacks

Our sauna suits need regular cleaning and proper drying.

I have a couple of tips that you can use to prolong their lifespan and top condition. Here they are:

#1. Rotate multiple suits: if you do that, you’ll give each suit time to air out and dry completely. The suits will have time to ‘rest’, and their overall lifespan will increase as a result.

#2. Use a sweat liner: if you use a sweat liner underneath, you’ll protect a sauna suit from a certain amount of sweat because sweat liners are very effective at absorbing moisture.

Besides, they are easily hand washed. Your sauna suit will stay clean for longer.

#3. Store properly: alwaysstore your sauna suit clean and in a dry place with consistent temperature away from direct sunlight.

Don’t leave the suit folded or compressed for a long period. It can lead to creases that can damage the material.

#4. Spot clean: sometimes spot cleaning is enough: there are just minor stains on the suit. You don’t need to wash the whole garment in such a case.

Simply clean the spots with a mild detergent and a soft rug.

#5. Avoid abrasive surfaces: don’t come in contact with rough or abrasive surfaces when in a sauna suit. That can cause pilling or abrasion.

#6. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines: this is an obvious tip, but it’s critical. You should always follow the washing and drying instructions. Manufacturers know what will work best for your sauna suit.

#7. Replace when necessary: despite your best efforts, your sauna suit will eventually wear out. You’ll know that the time has come.

Your suit will lose its elasticity, and the smell won’t completely disappear after cleaning. Those are the signs that it’s time to say goodbye to an old friend and go shopping.

Final thoughts

If you look after your sauna suit properly: clean it regularly and store it correctly, you can be sure that your sauna suit will live a long and ‘happy’ life and will give you the best performance possible.

If you are passionate about your fitness routine and want to make it even more effective and rewarding, a sauna suit will be a great assistant to this challenge.

FAQ