Cigars cannot be placed into a humidor and be expected to stay fresh. Why? Unless it is properly prepared, there is not an adequate amount of humidity inside your humidor. That said, here are instructions on how to prepare (cure) a new humidor or maintain your present one...

1) Using a heavy paper towel or a soft cloth (cotton), wipe down the entire inner surface of the humidor, including the inside of the lid, with distilled water. (It is crucial that only distilled water be used for this since water drawn from any other source will contain bleach, calcium, chlorine and other chemicals and minerals that will clog your humidification unit and, worst of all, impart those flavors to your cigars.) This process apply to any size of humidor.

2) Dip the humidification unit (humistad)in a shallow bowl of distilled water and let it soak for 5 to 10 seconds. After it has been soaked, shake out any excess water and place it on a paper towel for a few minutes. This will allow any additional excess water to drain out. After the lid of the humidor its feel dry by touch, affix the humidification unit to the roof of your humidor (or, if it is not meant to be placed there, follow the instructions that came with your humidification unit) and close your humidor.

3) Any cigars placed inside your humidor too early will be competing for humidity with the still porous cedar lining and will not be adequately humidified, and the moist of the cigars will be absorb by the cedar liners. Thats why is important this process, make sure to apply moisture to all the parts inside the humidor. It should be allowed to sit for around 3 to 4 hours before cigars be place inside. Also remember to removed them from the cellophane when they are place inside the humidor, better known by the connoisseurs as the "chest".

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Moist all the surfaces

How do I maintain my humidor ?

 Assuming it was properly prepared when you first purchased it, the only real maintenance required will be to refill the humidification unit from time to time. How often this is necessary depends, of course, on the reading of your hygrometer and the condition of your cigars. We recommend to be done once a month.

If you use only distilled water, once a month ought to be sufficient. If you are using a 50/50 mix of distilled water and propylene glycol in your humidification unit, the humidity will remain constant for a considerably longer period of time.

However, if you open your humidor several times a day or live in a particularly dry climate, more regular maintenance may be needed. Keep in mind that you will have to be more attentive to the humidity level inside your humidor during winter months when the relative humidity inside your house may drop significantly and draw some of the moisture out of your humidor.

Besides refilling your humidification unit from time to time, the only other precautionary steps you need to take to ensure a great-working humidor are to keep it away from windows or heating or air conditioning vents. Direct contact with sunlight will fade the wood and cause the internal temperature to rise above acceptable levels, while rapid changes in temperature that may occur near a heating or air-conditioning vent may damage the humidor as well as any cigars contained inside of it. Try to keep the humidor

How do I calibrate my new hygrometer?

If you are using a digital hygrometer, it is runs on a battery and will not require calibration.

Analog hygrometers (the round dials) are often as much as 20% off in their reading when brand new. This does not indicate that they are defective, just that they haven't been exposed to any humidity in a while and thus need to be calibrated.

To accurately calibrate new hygrometer humidor you will the following: a teaspoon of salt, a shot glass, a plastic sandwich bag and a few drops of water.

Place the salt in the shot glass and add just a few drops of water to it. Do not put so much water in it that it becomes a salt-water solution, you just want the salt to be slightly damp. Place the shot glass and your analog hygrometer in a plastic sandwich bag and tightly seal the bag. Make sure you leave plenty of air in there though, you want to create an atmosphere. Leave both items in the bag for at least six hours.

After this length of time, the relative humidity in the bag will be 75% and your hygrometer should read 75%. If not, you can adjust the reading by using a small screwdriver to adjust the dial on the back of the hygrometer.
  

How long will my humidor keep my cigars fresh?

If properly maintained, there is no reason a good humidor shouldn't be capable of storing your cigars for the duration of your life. In fact, there have been reports of pre-embargo cigars “discovered” in walk-in humidors that were placed there 40 or 50 years ago and they were said to be out-of-this-world-delicious. But the average cigar aficionado smoke his cigars within six months after purchase.
 

What qualities should I look for when buying a humidor?

The qualities you want to look for in a humidor are as follows: it should be cedar lined, solidly built with a good, tight, seal and a raised lip around the inside of the box, and be large enough to hold at least 25 to 30 cigars. There are a numerous styles and designs in the market to please your budget and taste, but always buy from a tobacco shop.

What kind of humidor should I buy?

That depends on what your storage needs are. Whatever they are, we recommend that you purchase your humidor from your local tobacconist.
A esthetically, your choice will be a reflection of your own personal sense of style. A good humidor can be much more than a well-working and functional piece of equipment, it can be a piece of furniture that adds charm and distinction to a room.

As far as size is concerned, we recommend a box that can accommodate at least 25 or more cigars. Why? Although you may not plan to keep a lot of cigars around at any given time, larger humidors offer the ideal amount of air circulation for properly aging cigars, therefore plan ahead before purchase. In addition, you should not preclude the possibility of stocking up or buying a box or two simply because you do not have enough room for them. Also, once word gets out that you own a humidor box, you might get lucky and receive a box of cigars as a gift from someone and it would be a shame for them to dry out because you didn't have enough room to store them in a smaller box.

We do sell smaller travel humidors that hold 2, 5, 10 to 20 cigars but these units are, as their name suggests, designed for travel, and not intended to be used for longer, indefinite lengths of time. We carry humidors that can hold from 10 to 3,500 cigars, so we are sure to have one that meets your specific needs.
  
Finally, check the cigars and humidity regularly. Carefully note when the device needs refilling i.e. a "fill" line. Place the cigars in the humidor generously; air needs to circulate in order to avoid mold from too much moisture. Lastly, keep the cigars in the humidor until you're ready to smoke them, long and white ashes...

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05.05.07