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Care of Humidors

Getting a new humidor ready for cigars, and keeping it that way, can be a rewarding process for cigar aficionados. Humidors are available in all shapes, sizes and materials, although untreated Spanish cedar is the preferred interior wood for humidifying cigars, according to Cigar Extras. Properly maintained humidors can age cigars for several years. While most purchased humidors include humidifiers and hygrometers (which gauges the level of humidity inside the humidor), new ones may have to be purchased if using older humidors, or in order to upgrade existing equipment.

Things You'll Need

Humidor
Distilled water
New, unscented sponge
Unused plastic sandwich bags
Humidor humidifier
Small, clean plastic squirt bottle
Clean cloth
Clean hand towel
Humidor solution
Warm tap water
Humidor hygrometer
Iodized table salt
Clean, plastic bottle cap

Instructions

Cleaning and Seasoning the Humidor
- 1
  Dampen a new sponge with distilled water and wipe down all wood surfaces on the inside of the humidor, including dividers, trays and the lid's interior.
- 2
  Re-wet the sponge (not to the point of dripping) and place it on the plastic bag in the center of the humidor. Close the humidor, leaving the damp sponge inside for about 12 hours.
- 3
  Check the sponge the next day for dampness. If the sponge is still wet, close the humidor and let it sit for another night. If the sponge is starting to dry, add more distilled water before sealing the humidor for up to another 12 hours.
- 4
  
  Cigars may be stored in the humidor after the initial seasoning.
  
  Remove the plastic bag and sponge the next day. Cigars can now be stored in the humidor.
Charging the Humidifier
- 5
  Fill the clean, plastic squirt bottle with humidor solution and squirt the liquid through the humidifier's vents. Moisten it well, but do not totally saturate it.
- 6
  Wipe away any excess liquid with a clean cloth and lay the humidifier upside down on a clean towel for approximately 30 minutes to catch more unnecessary moisture.
- 7
  Re-attach the humidifier to the interior of the humidifier as per manufacturer's directions.
- 8
  Repeat these steps as needed after checking the hygrometer gauge for humidity, by alternating the use of distilled water (every two to three times) to every one time using the humidor solution.
Hygrometer Calibration
- 9
  Fill a clean, dry, plastic bottle cap with a thick, moist paste of iodized table salt and warm tap water.
- 10
  Tightly seal the hygrometer (with the gauge face up) and salt-filled bottle cap into a plastic sandwich bag. Place the package on a flat surface, and allow it to sit, undisturbed, for six to eight hours.
- 11
  Check the hygrometer to see if, after seven hours, it registers 75 percent on the gauge. If it does, the hygrometer has been properly calibrated.
- 12
  Allow more time to pass if, after seven hours, the gauge does not read 75 percent. Allow it to continue to sit for the full eight hours before checking again.
- 13
  Adjust the hygrometer manually. If, after eight hours, the gauge still has not reached 75 percent, the hygrometer will have to be adjusted manually according to the manufacturer's directions.

Cigar Collecting