The Danger Of Using Tap Water In Your Humidor And How To Avoid Mold

If you are relatively new to the world of cigars (we have an entire guide on beginner cigar etiquette for those who are just starting their journey) or just invested in your first humidor, you may have been told that tap water can ruin your cigars. But how? And why? It's just water, isn't it? 

Not so fast. The risks of using tap water in your humidor can extend far beyond what you may think. And here's why:

Regular ol' tap water straight from your sink contains microorganisms, minerals like lime, and chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride that can alter the flavour of your cigar and create mold. Even if that tap water has been through a filter, it may still contain trace amounts of nasties that can make their way into your humidor.

What Should You Be Using In Your Humidor? 

You should be using distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or pre-packaged two-way humidity control products like Boveda packs or similar alternatives in your humidor.

Distilled water and reverse osmosis water are free of the harmful bacteria, contaminants, and impurities that can be found in tap water. You can typically get a large jug of either type of water at most grocery stores for a few dollars.

Pouring distilled water on a humidity sponge or beads, or into a small cup or other vessel inside your humidor, will keep your cigars humidified, but you need to be careful to avoid over-humidifying your cigars, which can lead to mold.

Boveda packs (or similar products) are pre-packaged membranes that absorb excess water in the air or emit it back into the humidor to keep the humidity at a precise, constant level. They work via a patented mix of salt and purified water and are a stress-free, easy way to maintain the right relative humidity (RH%).

What Else Can Cause Mold To Grow In My Humidor? 

High humidity and temperatures can lead to mold growing on your cigars. It's best to keep the humidity around 65-72% RH and the temperature between 64-70F. Some fluctuation is okay, and inevitable, but you generally want to keep your readings within these ranges.

Desktop humidors should always be kept in cool, temperature-controlled rooms, out of direct sunlight. If you have an electronic humidor, also known as a 'wineador', you can set the temperature.

Be sure to keep your wineador out of direct sunlight and areas where the motor has to work extra hard to keep the temperature regulated (like in a garage during the winter).

What To Do If You Discover Moldy Cigars 

If you notice your cigars starting to develop mold, you should act immediately. Visually inspect your cigars to see if the mold is only on the wrapper or if it has made its way onto the foot of the stick (the open end that you light). If the mold has a blue-green hue or an odour, throw it out right away.

If the mold is just on the wrapper, gently wipe it off with your finger. If it comes off right away, the cigar is fine. If it leaves behind a residue, you may want to consider throwing it out since the mold has penetrated the wrapper.

If there is mold on the foot of the cigar, we recommend throwing that cigar out right away since there's no way to tell how far inward the mold has penetrated.

Help! My Humidor Has Mold. What Should I Do? 

Mold can develop on the walls, shelves, drawers, bottom, and lid of your humidor just as easily as it can grow on your cigars. Most desktop humidors are made with an inner lining of Spanish cedar, which is very porous. The perfect breeding ground for mold. Fear not, as this is usually treatable.

If you notice just a small spot of mold in your humidor, remove all your cigars, keep the lid open, allow your humidor to dry completely, then use very fine sandpaper to sand down the affected areas. Then, shake the humidor upside down. Do not use a wet rag as that can spread the mold spores.

If the mold has spread a bit but isn't too bad, follow the steps above but also apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to kill any microorganisms that may have seeped into the wood.

Once you are certain the mold is gone, you will have to re-season your humidor before adding your sticks again.

If you discover that the mold in your humidor is spreading and taking over, the best course of action is to discard the humidor and sticks inside (unless they're in their cellophane wrappers—which we always recommend—in which case you can decide which ones to keep based on a visual inspection).

Disclaimer: The methods mentioned above are not guaranteed to eradicate mold from your humidor. They are simply suggestions to help reduce spread. If you are worried about mold, be sure to check your cigars and humidor at least once a week.

A Quick Word On Cigar Plume:

Cigar plume is a hotly contested topic among the cigar community. Depending on who you ask, you may hear either that plume is a desired characteristic that only happens in ideal conditions over a long period of time, or that it is indeed mold and has ruined the cigar.

Without any scientific studies to back up these claims, there is no definitive answer.

Plume is typically described as a powdery white dust that develops on cigar wrappers when the oils from the tobacco leaves begin to crystalize, giving the cigar an enhanced flavour. Some aficionados claim that this is different from mold since it can be wiped away, but others say it's a type of mold.

Plume is not to be confused with a characteristic known as "tooth" or "toothiness", where a cigar develops pockets of oils inside the wrapper leaf. Tooth looks like small bumps and sometimes appears white from certain angles.

If you are unsure what some of these cigar terms mean, we have an entire article dedicated to cigar terms, definitions, and lingo that will clarify what we're talking about in more detail.

Tips On How To Reduce The Chances Of Mold 

There a few steps you can take to reduce the chances of mold growing in your humidor and on your cigars. Here's a quick list:

• If a cigar comes in a cellophane wrapper, leave it in its packaging until you are ready to smoke it. If not, keep a close eye on it.

• Inspect your cigars and humidor at least once a week if you are worried about mold or if you have just added new sticks.

• Rotate your sticks in your humidor every few months. (Take them all out and re-organize them so they aren't in the same spot they were in before. This can be moving the cigars from the bottom to the top or from the left to the right).

• Avoid overcrowding your sticks to reduce the chance of mold spreading.

• Invest in a digital hygrometer for accurate RH% and temperature readings.

Summary

Using the wrong products when caring for your cigars can have detrimental effects on your entire collection. It's best to research and invest in quality products to ensure the longevity and protection of your investment of fine cigars.

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