Placement

• Cigar humidors should be placed on a level surface, away from direct sunlight or a heating vent. Avoid storing humidors in damp basements, where mold has a tendency to grow. It is best to keep your humidor in a room where the temperature is steady and not too warm, such as on a shelf in an office or library. The ideal temperature of the room is around 70 degrees. Also, avoid putting other objects on top of your humidor as this may scratch the wood.
  
  

Preparation and cleaning

• When you receive your humidor, there are steps that need to be taken before storing cigars. Humidors are made from either Spanish cedar or mahogany that is kiln dried. To create the ideal environment for cigars, the humidor's wood must be moistened or seasoned. Do not dampen the wood with a sponge or a paper towel. Instead, place a shot glass of distilled water in the bottom of the humidor. You must then charge the humidifier by filling it with propylene glycol solution, place the calibrated hygrometer inside the humidor and close the lid. Check the hygrometer daily and when it reads 68 percent to 72 percent your humidor is set to store your cigars. Always use distilled water, which can be found in grocery stores, to maintain the humidity level inside your humidor. Unlike tap water, distilled water does not contain minerals or chlorine that are harmful to cigars. Distilled water also helps to prevent buildup within your humidor. Avoid opening your humidor excessively, as this will cause moisture to escape and you will have to moisturize your humidor more often. Soft cloths, such as those used to clean eye glasses, are ideal for wiping down humidors that may become dusty. Furniture polish that you regularly used on other woods is an acceptable product to clean and polish the outside wood of your humidor.
  
  

Calibrating hygrometers

• Calibrating your hygrometer can be done easily with several household products. Materials you need include a plastic bag that zips closed, a cap from a soda bottle and table salt. Fill the cap with salt and drip some tap water into the cap until the salt is damp. Place the hygrometer and the cap of salt into the plastic bag and seal it. Let them sit for six hours, at which time the hygrometer should read 75 percent. If the reading is off, adjust the needle on the hygrometer. Repeat the process until the hygrometer is accurate. Recalibrate your hygrometer every six months. Also, do not place your hygrometer next to the humidifier inside the humidor, as this may give you an incorrect reading. Some people mount their hygrometer on the interior lid of the humidor to ensure its distance from the humidifier.