Expert: James Yee - 2/13/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have a strange problem where I had mold at normal humidity (70% or so). I think I overfilled my humidifier and got water directly on the wood. So I wiped the wood down with bleach (did not saturate) after I spent some time researching and talking with my father. Please note the mold only appeared on the cigar tray. I left the cigars out for 4 days after I bleached the tray. At that point I left the humidifiers in the humidor. Humidity returned to normal levels and no mold appeared. I reintroduced my cigars the next day.

Also, I have not seen any mold on the cigars at this point. For the past week I've been battling low humidity in the winter weather up in New England. I purchased another humidification device and found that I was declining and sitting stable around 65%. Then yesterday I noticed mold again.

What could cause mold at low humidity levels? My only guess is that I didn't kill it all the first time? If this is the case, why did it take over 2 weeks for the mold to reappear?

Thanks,
John

ANSWER: Hi John,

Mold can commonly appear in a humidor when the humidity flow is obstructed inside your humidor.  If the humidification device (particularly a passive unit) is blocked by cigars or humidor fixtures such as trays, drawers and/or other compartments, the humidity cannot properly circulate through the humidor and instead, a localized buildup of moisture in a certain part of the humidor will form.  This moisture buildup is usually closest to the humidification device and causes the wood (and even the humidifiers themselves) to be extremely wet.  As a result, this stagnant buildup of moisture can easily cause mold to form.  Try to re-arrange the cigars or relocating the humidifier in your humidor so that it is not obstructed by anything and the humidity can circulate more smoothly.

Mold can also appear from inadvertently touching your cigars with dirty hands.  A contaminated fingerprint with microscopic traces of sweat (bacteria), moisture and/or food residue is more than enough to cause mold to form.  While we don't purposely intend to contaminate our cigars by touch, it does happen from time to time so it's always good to thoroughly wash and dry your hands before handling your cigars.

Also, if not thoroughly disinfected, mold can definitely re-appear inside your humidor from residual mold particles.  If the residual mold is extremely miniscule, it may take longer for it to grow and be visible.  This could explain why it took 2 weeks for it to appear.  It's possible a single mold spore was left embedded in the porous cedar wood and overlooked and this is enough to cause a mold outbreak to occur.  Give your humidor interior a full, thorough wipe with Isopropyl Alcohol and this will kill all the residual mold hiding in the cedar.

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

Regards,
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm pretty meticulous about washing hands but I agree, it could have definately happened. I appreciate your info and will definately give that a shot next. I'm wondering why it's obstructed, I know that my father has way more cigars than me without problem. Although, it is a larger humidor. I'll give it another shot. Thank you James!

Also, after I wipe it down should I just put the tray back in and see where I get with that or am I going to have to re-season?

Thanks again!

Answer
Hi John,

It's not necessary to re-season the humidor if you only remove the tray to disinfect.  Disinfect the tray with isopropyl alcohol and then wipe it down with distilled water before returning it to your humidor.

Humidity problems from obstructions in the humidor is quite common with humidors that are filled with too many cigars.  With an electronic humidifier, the problem is less prevalent because there is a motorized fan to circulate air and humidity flow but with passive humidifiers, humidity can linger in some areas if the unit is blocked with cigars or humidor fixtures such as compartments, shelves or trays.  To fix this, try to arrange your humidor so that the humidification device is not enclosed by anything.  If your humidifier is kept under the lid, make sure there are no cigars placed directly near it.  There should be 2-3 inches of space in front of the humidifier.  If your humidifier is kept at the base of the humidor or tray, keep it in a centered location and not in a corner where it can be confined by cigars.  A centered location increases even humidity flow.  Lastly, if your humidor is getting really full, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger, more spacious humidor with an electronic humidification device.

Hopes this helps!  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James