Two key elements in keeping a cigar humidor in top shape — so it can keep your sticks in top shape — are to keep it clean and ‘well oiled’, i.e. properly humidified.
There are lots of ways to do that, of course, but the right cleanser and easy to use humidifiers will help a lot. Cleansers are the simplest ‘problem’ to solve. It turns out that plain old distilled water is best. Distilled water is vital since it doesn’t contain minerals that can clog humidifiers or add odors and contaminants that can foul cigars. It also doesn’t carry mold or fungus to give those critters a head start.
Whenever your humidor maintenance calls for water, use only distilled. Even bottled drinking water often, by design, contains minerals. Never use any household cleansers on the interior of your humidor. They’re fine for exterior wood, leather, and the other materials they’re designed for.
But even liquids used to clean wood aren’t right for the inside of your cigar box. Most will damage the Spanish Cedar liner and even those that won’t will invariably leave behind unwanted odors that spoil cigar taste. Humidifiers come in a dizzying array of types and products. Some are as simple as gel packs you can toss into the enclosure and then change a month or three months later.
Others are tiny tubes, ideal for travel humidors. Some contain propylene glycol, which absorbs odors and helps slow the rate of water absorption and release. The classic style is represented well by the line of Credo humidifiers. But even they have been updated with modern technology. They contain a chemical solution that helps regulate water evaporation. All you need to do is add distilled water. Some of them are also highly stylish. More exotic, high-tech devices are becoming more and more popular in the humidor world. Cigar Oasis makes a number of electric cigar humidifiers that really work. Some plug into the wall and have ultra-thin cords that can slip through a tiny sliver of space near your humidor’s hinges. Others are battery powered to allow for completely independent use and a tighter seal. Paradigm makes a very interesting humidifier constructed from an aluminum case and containing a “surgical sponge” that wicks water from the inside out. It offers a large reservoir for minimal maintenance and looks pretty cool, too. Hydra offers one of the latest gadgets in this area, an electronic humidifier. Because it’s electronic, it can measure and dispense moisture very precisely, creating an ideal environment for your cigar treasures. It houses a large digital display for accurate, easy reading and even contains a built-in hygrometer calibrator.
There are also audible and visible alarms that alert when your water supply is low. There may be no single best cigar humidifier; personal circumstances and applications vary so widely. But in every case, the simplest method for learning how to use your cigar humidifier is just to read the supplied instructions. You can read more reviews in everyone’s favorite cigar magazine, Cigar Aficionado.