Humidor mold - feedback requested

Long3

I found mold in my 150 count humidor tray. I wiped down the entire inside and tray with 1/2 distilled water 1/2 aclohol, then wiped down with distilled water after about 2 hours, left open for 24 hours and then put my cigars back in the humidor. I've smoked 3 cigars after one day and they seem to leave a strange aftertaste, perhaps the taste of the alcohol. I have about 45 high end cigars in the box and I'm worried I've ruined them. Any feedback would be appreciated.

benhanks

Welcome to the forum! I don't know about the humidor, I'm sure someone smarter than myself will answer that, but I would get the cigars into a cooler or large Tupperware until you get that resolved! I store a lot of mine in coolers regularly!!

Puff_Dougie

I'm certainly not an expert, but it seems to me that maybe you should have left the humidor open for more that 24 hours to give the alcohol time to evaporate before putting the cigars back in.

avengethis

Long3:

I found mold in my 150 count humidor tray. I wiped down the entire inside and tray with 1/2 distilled water 1/2 aclohol, then wiped down with distilled water after about 2 hours, left open for 24 hours and then put my cigars back in the humidor. I've smoked 3 cigars after one day and they seem to leave a strange aftertaste, perhaps the taste of the alcohol. I have about 45 high end cigars in the box and I'm worried I've ruined them. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I would probably take them all out and get them into ziplocks or tupperware asap with a boveda or something to help keep them humidified. My guess is that the alcohol messed up the wood in the humidor as that would have absorbed into the wood.

Long3

Thank you. I removed them and wiped the entire humidor with distilled water and will leave open for another day or two.

Bigshizza

Yep-- gets those out and into a cooler with a Boveda pack 65%, a large one. Then take the divider out that had mold. What do you use for humidification? What do you use as a Hygrometer?

Long3

Bigshizza - I use a digital hydrometer and the humidification strip that came with my humidor. I admit the moisture has been too high at times, but I try to keep it around 70. I have not put my sticks in a cooler before. Is that the refrigerator in a tupperware container? Right now I have all of them in a ziplock bag with a gel humidification jar in there. Smoked one this morning and it tasted fine. Will the alcohol that soaked in the wood eventually go away, if it hasn't already, or is my humidor shot? I assume my cigars are fine if I leave them in the bag covered on my dresser and leave the humidor air out for another day? Many thanks.

Puff_Dougie

The alcohol should evaporate, but may take awhile if it soaked into the wood. You might also try some light sanding.

Chemnitz

Long3:

I use a digital hydrometer and the humidification strip that came with my humidor.

I would get rid of that humidification strip that came with your humidor. I threw all of mine out because the RH would get too high. As Shizz said, invest in some Boveda 65% packs. They not only supply humidity, they will also remove humidity if necessary to maintain 65%. And they can be recharged when they start to dry.

Bob Luken

Long3

Bob - many thanks. I've read that some put cigars in the fridge or freezer, hence the reason for my question. I really appreciate the feedback and recommendations. I will buy some Bovedas.

Bob Luken

Long3:

Bob - many thanks. I've read that some put cigars in the fridge or freezer, hence the reason for my question. I really appreciate the feedback and recommendations. I will buy some Bovedas.

I wasn't trying to make fun of your question and I apologize if that's how it came off. It was a valid question but I guess I was amused at the thought of using the refrigerator for cigars. On the other hand, freezing actually is a way to kill off cigar beetles. Some enthusiasts, myself included, occasionally freeze cigars to ensure that any beetles, beetle eggs, or larvae are killed off. Let me know if you are unfortunate enough to find beetles. I know WAY too much about that subject. LOL

Long3

Haha. No worries at all. Haven't experienced beetles yet. Peace.