What is the correct way to 'break in' a new cigar humidor?!
I also purchased a propylene glycol solution for the humidifiers.
Answers: I just bought a nice glass top cigar humidor and I'm curious to know what the proper procedures are to 'breaking it in.' I've read online that you never want to wipe the wood with any kind of water, though the instructions that came with the humidor say to wipe the insides with distilled water. Which way is correct?
I also purchased a propylene glycol solution for the humidifiers.
Gently wipe down the inside with distilled water. You don't want to soak it, but you do want to get some moisture into the wood. After you wipe it down, add the humidifiers and close it. Let it stand for a day or 2. Your hygrometer should read 65%-70% humidity. If it is reading lower, wipe it down again and close it for another day. If you live in a colder area, and recently turned the furnace on, it will probably take a bit longer to bring up the humidity because of the very dry air circulating in the house. Keep it in an area where the heat will not blow directly on it, and check the humidity often. With the glass top, you will be able to do this with the lid closed, so you won't lose moisture trying to make sure it is humid enough.
I use propylene glycol in one of my humidors, and it seems to hold the humidity and doesn't spike high or low as much as my humidor that I use distilled water in. The distilled water humidor dropped to 58% the day after I turned on the furnace, the propylene glycol only dropped to 63%, both were at 68% the day before. I have had nothing bad to report about it, except for a higher price to refill.
you start with putting the solution in ur humidor pads, close the lid and let it sit empty for 24 hours. After that just add ur cigars and and keep up on ur use of the solution. If u want u can repeat the process two times for best results. U really don't want to wipe it down with water.
Good question. I'm glad to see some cigar questions once in a while. I have been smoking expensive cigars for 20 years. This is what I do. First, its ok to wipe down the humidor with DISTILLED water just don't soak the wood. More like mist it. This will give you a head start on humidifying the atmosphere. Then I would suggest not using the propylene glycol solutions. As they lose water to the atmosphere they are by definition going to change the relative humidity. I use just distilled water in my humidistat and add to it monthly. Of course you will need a humidity gauge to see where you are at. I recommend between 65-75 % RH. Get a digital if you can afford it. Any higher and you might start to grow mold. You can smell it in some of commercial (room) humidors in cheap cigar shops. I now have 4 functional humidors and never have a problem so believe whomever you want to. Good Luck
The cancer you will probably get from smoking will humidify the nasty habit. Quit smoking.