Getting Started with Infrared Sauna Therapy

What makes infrared sauna therapy different?

A conventional sauna heats the air around you. You sit in a very hot room until your body temperature rises. A far infrared sauna, however, heats your body directly using radiant infrared energy. This means the cabin air pressure in a Sun Stream sauna won’t need to be as high. The infrared wavelengths are absorbed directly by the moisture in your skin and conducted deeper into your muscles, triggering a deep, heavy sweat at much lower and more comfortable air temperatures—typically 38–55°C.

At this temperature range, the body produces what’s known as an ‘oil sweat’—a deeper form of perspiration that draws out toxins stored in fat tissue. Higher temperatures, by contrast, tend to produce a surface water sweat that doesn’t penetrate as deeply.

What’s the ideal temperature for an infrared sauna?

First-time users often wonder why their Sun Stream sauna doesn’t reach 65°C more quickly. The answer is that it isn’t designed to. The goal is to heat your body, not the air. Your Sun Stream infrared panels are engineered to deliver a concentrated, high-quality dose of infrared.

Learn more about setting your infrared sauna temperature.

Preparing your Sun Stream sauna for first use

Sun Stream saunas are shipped in tight packaging and may have some residual new manufacturing smells from the timber and Styrofoam. Do the following to clear that out:

• Vacuum any remaining dust or Styrofoam particles left from the assembly.
• Spray glass cleaner onto a cloth (not directly onto the glass) and gently wipe down the door panel.
• With a damp cloth, gently wipe down all interior timber surfaces to remove any wood dust.
• Give the cloth a fresh rinse and gently wipe the surface of all heater panels.
• Turn the sauna on to 100% intensity with the door fully open, and let it run for one hour. This burn-in process eliminates any residual new smells.
• Over the following days, leave the door open between uses to continue airing out the cabin.

Once this is done, your Sun Stream sauna will be broken in and ready for regular use.

Your first infrared sauna therapy session? Here’s what to do

Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of how to use your infrared sauna for the first time. Follow these steps for a comfortable, effective, and enjoyable experience.

Before you get in:

• Keep plenty of towels on hand—ideally two layers on the bench seat and a small towel for your feet on the floor.
• Have a stainless steel or glass water bottle filled and ready. Avoid plastic, as it can off-gas in the heat.
• Review the safety instructions in your Sun Stream Saunas owner’s manual, especially if you have any heart conditions, are pregnant, or take medications that affect blood pressure or circulation. When in doubt, check with your GP first.
• Do not use the sauna immediately after strenuous exercise; wait at least 15 minutes for your body to cool down.

Preheating your infrared sauna

Turn on your Sun Stream sauna 10-15 minutes before you plan to get in. Set it to 100% intensity, which allows the heaters to reach their optimum output temperature.

We recommend a starting temperature of 38–40°C when you first enter. This lower starting temperature allows your body to warm up gradually alongside the heaters, which is particularly important for first-time infrared sauna users.

When you enter, set the thermostat to the maximum 65°C. This ensures the heaters stay on continuously throughout your session rather than cycling on and off. The cabin temperature will naturally sit in the optimal 38–55°C range.

What to do during your infrared sauna session

• Once inside, set your timer. 20 minutes is an ideal duration for beginners. Over several sessions, work your way up to 30-45 minutes as your body acclimates.
• Note that the infrared heater panels are very hot. Don’t touch them.
• If you feel too warm, you can open the door slightly or use the Adjustable Infrared Intensity (AII) feature on the control panel to drop the output to 75% or 50%.
• The ceiling vent can be opened at any time to allow fresh air in.
• Wipe sweat from your body regularly. This helps your body perspire more freely.
• Stay hydrated. Drink water both before and during your session.
• Exit immediately if you feel lightheaded at any point.

What to do after your infrared sauna session

Once your session is finished, remove all sweaty towels from the sauna. Take a shower to wash away perspiration from your skin. If you have a post-sauna routine in mind—such as dry brushing or a cold rinse—this is a great time for it.

Leave the sauna door open afterwards to let it air out properly. You can also leave it running for 20 minutes to dry any excess sweat from the surfaces.

Explore Sun Stream Infrared Saunas

Ultra-low EMF home infrared saunas, made with premium materials and superior design, recommended by doctors and high-performance athletes. Build your home wellness routine with the best.

How to build your home infrared sauna routine

One of the most common questions new Sun Stream sauna owners ask is how often they should use it. The answer varies from person to person, but for most healthy adults, a daily session is perfectly safe and highly beneficial. Some people use their sauna more than once a day.

Consistency is the most important factor in an infrared sauna routine. The real wellness benefits—improved circulation, deeper sleep, muscle recovery, skin health, and stress relief—compound over time. Consider the following three-week conditioning timeline to help you establish your routine:

Week 1: The Awakening

Don’t be surprised if you don’t sweat much at first. Many first-time users find that their body needs a few sessions to adapt; you’re effectively retraining your sweat glands. Stick to 20-minute sessions at 38–40°C and focus on simply relaxing and being present.

Week 2: The Breakthrough

By the second week, most users notice they start sweating sooner and more productively during their infrared sauna sessions. Your body is beginning to thermoregulate more efficiently in response to the infrared. You may start extending sessions to 30 minutes.

Week 3 and Beyond: The Habit

Around the third week is often when the routine starts to take hold. Users begin to notice increased energy, clearer skin, better sleep quality, and faster muscle recovery after exercise. Sessions can extend to 45 minutes as your tolerance builds. Many users find the sauna becomes their favourite 15 of the day (then their favourite 45).

A good infrared sauna routine doesn’t need to be complicated. Even 3-4 sessions per week can deliver meaningful results. Consistency beats intensity every time.

Elevating your Sun Stream Sauna experience

Sun Stream saunas come equipped with several features designed to make every session more immersive and personalised.

Chromotherapy (Colour Light Therapy)

Sun Stream Saunas include a full chromotherapy LED system operated by remote control. Choose from 12 different colour options or four rotating colour programmes.

Chromotherapy, a non-invasive form of colour light therapy used to support mood and relaxation, can transform your sauna experience. Blue tones are calming and meditative; red tones are energising and warming.

Adjust the brightness to suit your preference.

Audio System

The built-in Bluetooth speakers included in Sun Stream saunas let you stream music, podcasts, or guided meditations wirelessly from your device. Simply search for ‘BT Speaker’ in your device’s Bluetooth settings and connect. For a cleaner signal with no RF interference, you can also connect directly via a 3.5mm audio cable.

Can you have your phone in your infrared sauna?

Far infrared radiation, at the levels found in a Sun Stream sauna, is not itself a threat to your phone. However, infrared saunas tend to run at or beyond the high end of acceptable temperatures for most phones and tablets, and proximity to the heater panels can result in rapid overheating. Consider leaving your phone outside the sauna. Use a smartwatch or the sauna’s remote to control playback. This is a good habit that keeps your session a genuine digital detox.

Aromatherapy

Add 10ml of water and a few drops of your favourite essential oil—eucalyptus and lavender are popular choices—to the aromatherapy glass included in your Sun Stream sauna. Hang it on the wall heater guard and let the heat gently diffuse the scent throughout your session. This simple addition transforms a wellness session into something genuinely multi-sensory.

Smart Mode

With a compatible Wi-Fi smart plug (Sun Stream recommends the TP-Link Tapo P100), you can schedule your sauna remotely via app. This means your Sun Stream can be warm and ready when you wake up or arrive home. When using Smart Mode, set the control panel to 40°C+, 100% intensity, and 30+ minutes at the end of each session so the sauna launches correctly next time.

Read up on the premium materials and features included in a Sun Stream sauna.

Keeping Your Sauna Clean and Hygienic

A few easy habits after each session keep your Sun Stream sauna performing at its best and considerably extend its life:

• Always place a large towel (two layers if possible) over the bench seat before each session.
• Place a small towel under your feet to catch sweat drips, but be careful not to cover more than 30% of the floor heater panel.
• After each session, leave the door open to air out the cabin, or run the sauna for 20 minutes on low to dry out any sweat.
• Periodically raise the floor heater guard and wipe the heater surface with a damp cloth.
• For the movable backrests and floor heater guard, clean with warm water and a small amount of white vinegar, then dry in direct sunlight.
• Use fine-grit sandpaper for any sweat stains on the raw timber. Always sand with the wood grain.
• Never use detergents or chemical cleaners inside the sauna. Never hose down the interior, or paint or stain the timber.

Sun Stream recommends applying Gilly’s Liquid Beeswax (Australian-made) or Beeseal (New Zealand-made) to the backrests, seat, and floor heater guard. This provides a light barrier against sweat absorption and keeps the timber looking its best.

Essential Safety Tips for Infrared Sauna Therapy

For the vast majority of healthy adults, infrared sauna therapy is perfectly safe. That said, a few safety precautions are non-negotiable:

• Always consult your doctor before committing to a home infrared sauna. Ensure you don’t have a history of heart disease, abnormal blood pressure, circulatory issues, or diabetes.
• Seek medical advice if you are or may become pregnant. Excessive heat poses risks to foetal development, particularly in early pregnancy.
• Never use your home infrared sauna under the influence of alcohol or medications that cause drowsiness, affect heart rate, or impact circulation.
• Do not allow children to use the sauna unsupervised.
• Never sleep inside the sauna while it’s running.
• Exit immediately if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or unwell.
• Do not leave the sauna unattended while it’s operating.

Listen to your body—infrared sauna therapy is a wellness tool, not a competition. Start gently, build gradually, and let the results speak for themselves.

Disclaimer:

This information is not intended to prescribe a particular health issue or course of action. We are not medical professionals, so please contact your GP or health practitioner for medical advise.