Cigars/humidifier mold
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Question
1 is it ok to wipe down my humidifier with vodka which is 40% ethyl alcohol instead of isopropyl alcohol.
2 can you use a mixture of glycrine and water instead of proplyene glycol ?
My humidity reads 70 more or less most all the time and i have had my humidor for over 5 years .. very well satisfied except gradual formation of mold.. i use distilled water so it is not calcium deposts.
Thanks
Don Sparks
Hi Don,
While vodka is safe around your cigars and humidor, it is lower in alchol content (when compared to genuine rubbing alcohol) so it may not effectively kill all the mold particles/bacteria in your humidor. Isospropyl alchol (rubbing alcohol) is much more effective at killing bacteria so I would recommend using that over vodka.
In regards to glycerine, I've never heard of anybody using it as a substitute for propylene glycol so I'm not sure what it's effects would be. Glycerine is slightly denser than Propylene Glycol so it may impede proper humidity performance. Glycerol/Glycerin is also commonly used as a sugar substitute in food manufacturing so the sugar content in it may be susceptible to bacteria growth.
Hopes 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
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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