What materials are these saunas made of, and will they smell when new?
These saunas are made of typical synthetic materials found in many household products such as clothing. No unusual or noxious materials are used. Materials were chosen for durability, cost-effectiveness and safety in the presence of heat. Natural materials such as organic cotton have been considered, but they would cost much more and would require the addition of possibly toxic flame-retardant treatments. When first opened, any portable sauna will have a "new" odor. When you first receive your new sauna, we recommend opening it and setting it up in a place where it can "breathe" for a while before using it, perhaps in a garage, covered patio or basement, away from children and pets. The heaters can be activated periodically to accelerate outgassing (a sauna should never be powered up unless you are nearby to monitor). Although not necessary, a fan can even be placed in front of the opened front zippered entrance to flush air around the inside of the sauna.

The good news is that these portable saunas outgas very quickly. And, unlike with wood saunas, the user's head is outside the sauna chamber, breathing fresh air. For most users, a few days is enough to reduce the "new" smell to a low level. For very sensitive persons, several days or even a couple of weeks may be necessary. But eventually the "new" odor will go away. Even severely chemically sensitive people have been able to happily use these saunas after a month or so. We think that this is a good trade-off for most people, because these portables are so affordable, making sauna therapy available to those people who need it, but who cannot afford a wood sauna. Besides, even wood saunas need to outgas, and wood, while it may smell less at first, can take much longer to outgas - months, even years.

Will sweat get on the canopy, and will it stain it?
The only point of regular contact between the canopy of the sauna and the user is around the neck hole. For this reason, we recommend wrapping a hand towel loosely around your neck before closing the neck opening. The towel will absorb the majority of the sweat. We also suggest placing a folded towel over the seat of the chair, but in such a way that it doesn't block the heater panels which need a direct "line-of-sight" path to your skin for the far infrared rays to penetrate. Towels may also be laid on the floor mat to catch dripping. If towels are used in this way, removing the towels and wiping up any remaining drips on the floor mat is all that is required for clean up, most of the time. With the Golden Heat model, extra care must be taken to keep towels away from all surfaces of the ceramic heater to prevent overheating and risk of fire. With the Royal Heat model, the footpad should not be covered in towels as it may overheat. With the hard side of the floor mat facing up, drips may be easily wiped dry.

Eventually, after much use, some stains may linger, whether the sauna is a portable unit or a wood unit. Lingering sweat stains may be cleaned with a moistened hand towel. In stubborn cases, a diluted solution of very mild dishwashing liquid (fragrance-free) may be used for spot cleaning. Avoid the use of any harsh chemicals. And never apply, spray or drip any liquid on any electrical part or heater.

How do I dry the sauna after use?
Remove the wet towels and use them to mop up any remaining drips, as discussed above. Open the front entrance zipper all the way, and stretch open the entrance so that air can freely circulate. Unplug the sauna, and keep it unplugged unless in use. That's about it! You may accelerate drying or humidity removal by placing a small fan on the floor in front of the opened sauna to flush air throughout the interior, but this is not necessary unless someone else is expected to use the unit very soon afterward.

What should I wear in the sauna?
Nothing at all preferably! Get as naked as the situation will allow. You want your skin to be exposed directly to the infrared rays. Clothing or towels will block this beneficial reception. If modesty forces you to wear something, you may wear underwear or a swimming outfit, but cover as little skin as modesty will allow, and be prepared for any clothing to be drenched with sweat.