Mold on my Humidifier

[rottenzombie]

I was checking the humidifier in my humidor a couple of days ago and spotted some suspitous spots on it.not 100% sure it's mold but I removed it from the humi and I've been keeping a close watch on my sticks...Question is,if it is mold how do i kill it??? it's a nice humidifier and I'd hate to have to throw it out......thanks

[SUOrangeGuy]

If its a sponge humidifier rinse it out with distilled water and then rehumidify it with whatever solution you're using with about a teaspoon of vodka added as an anti-fungal agent.

[hova45]

The above suggestion is great, and also you can buy pg solution with anti fungal agents.

[jkim05]

Originally Posted by hova45

The above suggestion is great, and also you can buy pg solution with anti fungal agents.

Actually the propylene glycol is an antimicrobial agent in and of itself, just being nitpicky. Rather than vodka, I'd recommend this in the long term especially because in a 50/50 solution with water propylene glycol helps to control the humidity in the air. You can either purchase a premixed humidification solution or you can purchase propylene glycol from the pharmacy and mix it yourself. Either way it should last you a long time.

[RPB67]

Clean it off and dry it out. Then be sure it is all cleaned off.

I like using the 50/50 solution. I never had a problem after using it. Use it once then use distilled water after that and you should be good to go.

[rottenzombie]

Thanks for all the help...I'm going to let the humidifier dry out after I get it clean and use the propylene glycol solution...

[hova45]

Originally Posted by jkim05

Actually the propylene glycol is an antimicrobial agent in and of itself, just being nitpicky. Rather than vodka, I'd recommend this in the long term especially because in a 50/50 solution with water propylene glycol helps to control the humidity in the air. You can either purchase a premixed humidification solution or you can purchase propylene glycol from the pharmacy and mix it yourself. Either way it should last you a long time.

You are somewhat right as to the antimicrobial, but it depends what concentration of glycol it is for anti fungal.

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/Merchan...ode=othergifts

[fordkustom]

from my experience once the foam has mold it has to be chucked. if you can find them, boveda pouches have worked wonders for me and no worries mold wise but then again i can not see inside the pouche.

[be23skido]

Originally Posted by fordkustom

from my experience once the foam has mold it has to be chucked. if you can find them, boveda pouches have worked wonders for me and no worries mold wise but then again i can not see inside the pouche.

I have the same problem. Some years ago I had mold in my humidor becuase I was using a cheap humidification system. My humidor has sat empty ever since. I wanted to start using it again but I want to ensure the mold doesn't come back. I dry wiped all the old mold out and I was going to wipe the inside out with distilled water but I think I need something more to avoid another outbreak. I lost close to a grand in sticks last time this happened. I am getting ready to set my humidor up. I don't plan on putting sticks in it for about a week so that the cedar has time to absorb the distilled water. I also am using humi-bead instead of a sponge system. If I go as planned and add a anti-fungal solution to my distilled water for the set up, will I be okay?

[wharfrathoss]

rottenzombie: i had the same problem-i took the element apart, threw out the foam, & replaced it-i used oasis root cubes (from a gardening center, used for starting clones) but you can also use florist foam (the wet kind) available at walmart-ended up getting beads shortly after & haven't had any trouble since

be23skido: 1st welcome to the jungle-might want to post an intro in the new gorilla forum-2nd if i understand your post, the mold was in the actual humi versus the humidifier in rottenzombie's case-when i had mold in my humi, i wiped it out, then went back over the mold spots lightly w/isopropl alcohol-if the mold was more severe in your case, set the humi outside in the sun for a day-that'll kill the mold spores that you can't see-then reseason it & w/beads you should be good to go

hope this helps

[omowasu]

Originally Posted by jkim05

Actually the propylene glycol is an antimicrobial agent in and of itself, just being nitpicky. Rather than vodka, I'd recommend this in the long term especially because in a 50/50 solution with water propylene glycol helps to control the humidity in the air. You can either purchase a premixed humidification solution or you can purchase propylene glycol from the pharmacy and mix it yourself. Either way it should last you a long time.

Agreed, Vodka will mess your cigars taste up a bit. Alcohol can vaporize at lower temps than water and end up in your sticks.

Just add some Propylene Glycol solution (you can find it at a B&M/cigar shop) and the mold will go away. No need to do anything drastic - I have had this problem before as well.

[be23skido]

Thanks for your input. I felt confident that I could get my humidor reseasoned and filled with good smokes but I really needed to hear it from someone else. Thanks.

The mold was primarily around the humification foam. I don't think I will have a problem with the mold coming back, but if you ever want to see a grown man cry, watch him throw out a good collection of cigars. I wasn't about to take a chance on this humidor if the chances of the mold coming back was too high. It sounds like if I us the humi-beads I shouldn't have any troubles. Still going to take it slow. No gold leaf is going in this humidor for quite a while.

Thanks again!