Expert: M J Robbins - 2/3/2009

Question
Just after I lit a big Churchill cigar, I was called to an emergency where I was not able to finish it.  I clipped-off the burned portion of the cigar and put it back into my humidor.  The next day when I went to finish it, the humidor reeked of stale cigar smoke.  This happened about 6 weeks ago; the smell has decreased, but it's still there.  I have not noticed any issue regarding the taste of the other cigars stored in the humidor and it's maintaining humidity.  Have I ruined my humidor or is there something I can do to rid it of the stale smoke odor?  I liked the smell of the fresh tobacco when I selected a cigar from the humidor and that's definitely gone.  It's not a large nor expensive humidor, but it suits me well otherwise.  Any advice is appreciated.

Answer
To clean odor and everything else out of an old pipe I always used rubbing alcohol. Alcohol evaporates and leaves no smell or aroma. I cleaned many old stinky pipes out and it left them clean and no smell.
The same should aply to a humidor absolutely and you use alcohol to clean mold out of a humidor also.
Pour Isopropyl Alcohol in the box and wipe it in using an old tooth brush to clean the nooks and crannies. Leave open for a day at least  to hurry the process put a fan near the box and it will dry in hours.
The bummer is that the odor might have been absorbed by the Humidification device and the cigars even though you can't taste it. The device might have to be replaced for sure.
Finally
I say smoke the last of the cigars in this box, replace the device.
Wipe the box down with alcohol and everything should be fine to start over.