A humidor comes in handy to keep your cigars fresh and crisp. But, it takes regular care and maintenance to keep your humidor functional and practical. Luckily, it is not tasking, and a few practices from time to time will do the trick.
Season The Humidor Before Use
When you buy a humidor, it is important to season it before storing cigars there. The cedar comes dry, which is not ideal for maintaining the right humidity levels for cigar storage. Kiln-dried cedar absorbs moisture and releases moisture slowly; therefore, it needs to be in this state before you store cigars.
If you place cigars in the humidor as it comes, the cedar will soak the moisture out of your cigars, drying them out in no time. This is why seasoning is essential; to ensure the perfect humid environment to maintain the moisture in your cigars.
Store the Humidor in a Cool Dark Place
A humidor needs a cool and dry place where the temperatures are not extreme. The internal temperature of a humidor should be 70 degrees Fahrenheit, optimal for proper cigar storage. The exterior conditions in the area you store your humidor will affect the interior humidity and temperature.
Avoid areas where the sun can easily peep through and expose your humidor. An ideal place to store your humidor is in a cabinet in a dry and cool place. That way, it functions right and keeps the interior conditions optimal and safe for your cigars.
Keep the Humidifier Filled
Your humidor can only keep the conditions optimal if the humidifier is constantly filled. A dip in the moisture content in the humidifier directly affects the humidity and lowers it. This, in turn, affects the humidor’s overall conditions, affecting the quality of the cigars significantly.
Check the humidifier every few days or once a week to ensure it is filled. Follow the instructions the humidifier comes with to ensure it functions right all the time. Replace the humidifiers as instructed to keep your humidor working precisely.
Consider What You Use to Humidify
Most humidors use distilled water or propylene glycol as humidifying agents. Both come with pros and cons depending on how often you open the humidor. Each time you open the humidor, the relative humidity is affected.
If you open your humidor regularly, consider using distilled water as it is easy to replace and refill in a humidifier. It is low maintenance and easy to replace. If you do not need to open your humidor regularly, propylene glycol is ideal. It does not evaporate as much as distilled water; therefore does not need refilling all the time.
Check the Hygrometer regularly
A hygrometer comes in handy to ensure the humidity stays at a favorable level, ideally 70%. Check your hygrometer at least weekly to ensure the humidity levels are constant. This will help you determine when to refill the humidifier and keep the humidor functioning effectively. If the humidity dips, fill the humidifier and keep tracking to ensure the relative humidity is back to 70%.
