Fine mold developing under my humidifier

I'm heading to my B&M tomorrow to pick up a bead system and a digital hygrometer and to discuss the following issue, but I've got a bit of a problem on my hands that likely needs decisive attention tonight.

I'm still trying to get the hang of maintaining my first humidor--a desktop Vector.

Unfortunately, my difficulties have gone beyond simply keeping pace with the rapidly fluctuating analog hygrometer to containing a small mold outbreak.

I followed the directions for preparing my rectangular black plastic sponge-based humidifier to the letter, but something has gone awry. I noticed this evening that a very fine patina of yellowish/greenish/greyish mold has developed on the cedar of my drawer underneath where the two sets of slats sit. It's also down through the slats of the drawer itself, with a little bit of fuzziness underneath. The portion closest to the humidifier is more of a dusty sort of presence.

My wife has some experience as a preservation librarian, and her first inclination was to put the tainted drawer into a Ziploc and freeze it overnight to kill the mold. However, I'm leery of doing this for fear of warping, cracking, or otherwise damaging the drawer itself.

If it is of any help, I can try to post pictures, although I make no promises as to quality--our camera has been acting up lately, and most of the mold is hard to see except from certain angles, etc.

What should I do?

Thanks in advance...

Hopefully you have already moved your cigars to zip locks or tupperware.

No, to be honest, that didn't occur to me. I did however remove the offending drawer and the humidifier.

I'll put them into Tupperware now though...

Try this

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cigars-2143/Hum...anish-Cedar.htm

Good Luck and Welcome Aboard!

Since nobody responded in time, I just soaked the entire drawer in a Ziploc filled with kerosene to be sure to kill the mold. Was that the right thing to do?














Just kidding. I took the drawer in to my B&M (where my wife purchased the humidor) and he was a little baffled but he gave me a new drawer from one of the other Vectors they had in stock. I also picked up a bead-based humidifier and a digital hygrometer to replace the sponge/analog system I had going before.

The link above was reassuring in that there was no blue or green tint to the mold. Hopefully things will stabilize soon--especially once I've got a few more sticks in there...

Doh! You posted while I was typing.

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You'd get better advice here on this forum than from that "expert."

Some photos would be helpful.

It sounds like the environment simply got overly humid. First of all, the general consensus is that analog hygrometers can be horrendously inaccurate and so what registered as a proper RH might actually be significantly higher . I can verify this from experience. Second, it sounds like some water/solution might have dripped out of your humidifying element and precipitate the formation of mold.

Were there any cigars in your humidor? In any case, I would place your drawer in a plastic bag, then wrap it in foil and then place the unit in the freezer for a few days. And/or wipe down with a dilute distilled vinegar solution and let air dry.

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It turns out you got a much better resolution from your B&M. :thumbs:

Wilkey

also using pg fluid rather than water as a humidification liquid can help to deter mold. doesn't really deter it but is less likely to allow it to grow.

Dios de Fuego said:

also using pg fluid rather than water as a humidification liquid can help to deter mold. doesn't really deter it but is less likely to allow it to grow.

Click to expand...

Roger, Roger.

I've also made that adjustment to the system. Thanks again for all of the help, everyone.