Seasoning and Calibrating Your Humidor and Hygrometer

The first set of directions are the "ideal" way to season your humidor. Your patience level may dictate a different time frame.

SEASONING YOUR HUMIDOR

- Dampen, (not soak), a clean sponge or cloth with distilled water
- Wipe down all the wood inside the humidor
- Put the wet sponge or cloth on a piece of cellophane or plastic bag inside the humidor.
- Fill your humidification device with distilled water or humidifying solution (propylene glycol)
- If it overflows, wipe and blot off all excess water or solution
- Place the device inside the humidor
- Close the humidor for 24 hours (Don't open it!)
- The next day, repeat the process, but don't leave the sponge inside this time.
- Wait another 24 hours.
- On the second day, if your hygrometer measures between 68% and 72%, you're good to go. If it doesn't, repeat the process a third time.
- If you suspect your hygrometer is inaccurate, follow the next set of instructions:

CALIBRATING YOUR HYGROMETER

- Fill a bottle cap or small container with salt. Add a little water, but not enough to dissolve the salt.
- Seal the cap and the salt, along with your hygrometer, inside a Ziploc baggie
- After 6 hours, read your hygrometer, (still inside the sealed baggie). If your hygrometer reads 75%, it's dead-on accurate.
- If your hygrometer reads more or less than 75%, adjust it to 75% by turning the screw on the back. Do this immediately after opening the baggie, before the ambient room humidity changes the reading.
- If there is no adjustment screw on the back of your hygrometer, you'll have to do a "mental" calibration, remembering just how far off of 75% your hygrometer is. Add or subtract the difference from 75%.
- Perfect humidity for your cigars is between 68% and 72%. None of us is perfect.