Expert: M J Robbins - 9/5/2010

Question
I wonder if you can help me, I have had a humidor for over 8 years now storing mainly mixed Cuban cigars had approx 75 in the box without any problems it is an Adorini model with capacity of 150 cigars, conventional Analogue reader and humidifier distilled water only.

Approximately 2 months ago I added x18 Espandidos to the box, after a few weeks I opened the box to find mold on the cigars, the humidity % reading on the Analogue appeared very high and we have been having a very hot period in June/July in the UK.

I assumed the humidifier needed a top up. I cleaned the Mold off cigars separated them and cleaned out top layer of the box with meths, added distilled water and closed Lid and kept an  eye on status, humidity was still high 80% levels on the Analogue reader and moss continued to bloom on the cigars.

To rule out the normal queries, I bought a digital reader, new Adorini Humidifier, and 50/50 solution from simply cigars and monitored again over a two weeks. I may have messed up on the solution on the new Adorini humidifier as it looks like it was a distilled water based solution only and I have used 50/50 - so maybe this has thrown the levels out, I’m not sure what to do, this is query 1: should I continue to use the 50/50 on next refill, buy some PGL and add a few drops to reduce humidity, or just go for plain distilled on the next refill and monitor??

The Digital reader, was telling me that the room was too hot circa 78 and humidifier at 80+ levels, analogue which I re calibrated was agreeing, so I have moved the box to my garage. Temp has reduced to 58-64 levels, humidity still at 78% levels, though and moss still growing??

I have moved the esplandidos to the lower layer now, ensured upper and lower areas have slot gaps for circulation, still high levels at 78%, I now have lifted the lid slightly to see if the humidity levels reduce.

Hence in general, adding more cigars I expected lower Humidity levels not higher. Never had a problem in over 8 years until the new cigars were added, they appeared in normal condition, could it be that they are so large, holding so much moisture in the cigars that its thrown the whole humidor out??

Any help on trying to resolve this problem and get my humidor back to a headache free stste would be appreciated........Thanks


Answer
You got some bad cigars that threw the humidor off.
The warmer it is the higher the RH in relation to the cigars.
The high temperature, bad cigars and old humidity device, combined to destroy everything.

Wipe down the box with Isopropyl alcohol and leave it open for a few days to air out. Wipe off the cigars with alcohol- wet a towel and gently wipe them off and dab the foot of the cigar. That will kill the mold and leave no taste or aroma, leave them out for 6 hours to dry out. If the cigars smell rancid throw them out. Put the good ones in a zip lock bag for a few days while the humidor airs out.

When you have mold you need to replace the Humidification device, that is one source of mold.
Replace the humidification device every few years to avoid problems.

Start over.

When humidity is high take the humidity device out completely until humidity drops.

Hopefully we can save them all.

Let me know if this is enough.

Mike