Cigar Humidors-properly Preparing Your Humidor

purchased a new humidor, you need to make sureLeave it over night or check on it after 6-8 hours.
that you properly season it before storing your cigarsIdeally your hygrometer will read 75%. Yours may
in it. Placing your cigars in the humidor will not get younot because most hygrometers have a margin of
the desired effect. In fact, if your humidor is noterror. To compensate for the margin of error you
properly seasoned you will end up drying out yourhave two options. You can either remember the
cigars rather than keeping them humid. This ismargin of error (if it reads 70% you know it will
because your humidor is most likely lined in Spanishalways be off -5%) or you can adjust the screw on
cedar. If the wood is dry then it will actually absorbthe back of the hygrometer, if it allows for it, until
the humidity contained in your cigars. Not quite whatthe needle reads 75%.
you expected is it?Step 2: Charge the Humidifier
When you receive your humidor it will most probablyUsing either distilled water or a mixture of distilled
be quite dry. The reasons for this are simple. First ofwater and propylene glycol, dampen the humidifier.
all, if you've purchased a Spanish cedar lined humidor,You should make the humidifier pretty wet but not
manufacturer's dry out the wood because Spanishsoaking,. Just make sure you don't have any excess
cedar has been known to release sap. By drying itwater dripping out of it. A good way of controlling
out the chance of sap leaking is significantly reduced.this is to place the humidifier on top of some paper
Secondly, if a humidor isn't cared for it will naturallytowels and let the extra liquid get absorbed by the
dry out on its own. The humidor you received haspaper towel. Place the humidifier back in the humidor.
most likely been in shipping and storage for a quite aBe sure to use distilled water in this step. In the short
while so it has naturally dried out over time.run using regular water will work but over time the
By preparing your humidor properly, you'll ensure thatminerals contained in that water will clog up your
you've created the right environment for storing yourhumidifier and you'll have to purchase another one.
cigars. Use this step by step approach for the bestStep 3: Charge your Humidor
results. It does take some time and effort but is wellUse a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down the inside
worth it.of the humidor. This will help the wood absorb
Step 1: Calibrate the Hygrometermoisture more quickly. Make sure not so soak the
Take one teaspoon of salt and place it in an openwood, just leave a film of moisture on it. Fill a shot
container. Using the lid of a small jar will work justglass (or similar small container) with distilled water
fine. Place a few drops of water into the salt. Makeand place it inside your humidor. Close the humidor
sure not to dissolve the salt, the idea is to make theand let it sit over night. The next day, check on it to
salt wet but not to have any excess water. The saltsee if any water has evaporated from the shot glass.
should look like more a thick paste than a liquid.If the water level has gone down, refill the container
Having done this, you can now place the hygrometerwith more distilled water and let it sit longer. Repeat
and the salt-filled container into a zip-lock bag. Sealthis process until the water level stays about the
the bag carefully and be sure not to spill anything outsame ion your container. Once it stays the same, its
of the container. You should also leave some air inand indication that the moisture levels in your humidor
the zip lock bag so the hygrometer can read thehave stabilized.
moisture content in the air.You cigar humidor is now ready for use!