Expert: James Yee - 1/5/2008

Question
I use a humidor that holds about a hundred cigars and noticed white mold on the outside on the humidification device i use (standard green oasis humidifier). I have only use distilled water to charge the humidifier and i know that white mold probably shouldn't be growing. What gives?

Answer
Hi Mike,

White mold is usually an indication that the humidity inside your humidor is either too high or that you may be using water that is not 100% distilled water.  It's also an indication that the humidity may be highly concentrated in one area in one area inside your humidor due to an obstruction of humidity flow.

The first thing you need to do is clean the humidification device.  If the mold has only formed on the outside of the humidification housing, simply wipe the mold up with a damp paper towel (with distilled water) and then wipe the housing with some isopropyl alcohol and then distilled water.  If however, your humidification device has an oasis (foam) core and the mold has entered the humidification device and gotten into the aqua-foam element, you will need to replace the device altogether as it is hard to fully purge the mold from the porous foam.

Now that the humidification device is cleaned/replaced, return it back to the humidor.  To ensure that the humidity flow doesn't have any obstruction problems, make sure that the humidification device is not obstructed by drawers, trays, dividers, compartments or cigars themselves.  Obstructing the humidity flow can cause a high concentration of humidity in one area which is more than enough to cause mold to form.

If your humidification device is not obstructed by anything inside your humidor, what you can then do is use double distilled water called "bidest water" instead of normal distilled water.

Hope this answers your question.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I'll be happy to help.

Regards,
James