The different options for maintaining your cigar equipment

Keeping several cigars at home calls for specific equipment to look after them. Whether it is the accessories or the cigars themselves, regular care is what makes both last. Here is an overview.

Looking after the humidor

Alongside the right temperature, the humidor also has to hold the right humidity level. That calls for a humidifier inside the cabinet. It needs to be recharged once a month if it is an acrylic crystal model, and specific liquids are sold for that purpose. For other models, remember to change the refill in line with the manufacturer's recommendations. Gel beads or humidifier crystals can be used as well.

Dividers inside the cabinet are also strongly recommended, so as to limit the spread of mould should it appear. Do not forget to place traps for the tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, either as a preventive measure or as a targeted treatment.

Finally, renovation solutions exist for the periodic upkeep of humidifiers. They keep the air clean and regenerate the surfactants inside the units.

Dealing with cigars that are already damaged

Has the air in your humidor been too dry or too damp, leaving your cigars in poor condition? They may still be salvageable. If the wrapper looks as though it is coming away, repair glue for cigars exists. These small bottles contain what is presented as a 100% natural food-grade glue, used to stick the loose sections back down. Sold on their own or as part of a kit, they give damaged cigars a second life.

If your cigars have already been affected by mould caused by damp, their taste is likely to be badly altered. It is also strongly recommended not to smoke them, as this could be harmful to health as well as unpleasant to taste.

Remember to turn your cigars every fortnight while the cabinet is open, so that the air inside is renewed.