AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do?

Thrak · 02-12-2009, 04:23 PM

This is the first time this has happened to me. Like many other BOTL's, I've been fighting to keep my rh at an acceptable level. I grabbed an old style foam humdifier rectangle and used distilled water.

Today I went to investigate my stash (since its been 70* here this week) and this is what I found on the cigars closest to it. The other ones had cello on them and I cant find any evidence of mold.

I also cannot see anything in the humi itself. I wiped it up with a dry cloth just in case. The mold hasnt spread from these.

Anyway to save these, its only evident on the cap? They are H.Upmann CC's from my recent cruise. I'd hate to lose them.

02-12-2009, 04:26 PM

Take a paper towel or soft cotton cloth.

Gently clean all the mold off.

Get a new paper towel or a new cotton cloth repeat the process.

I usually do three iterations of this to make sure I have gotten as many of the mold spores as humanly possible. I even blow my sticks off after with compressed air (if you do this be careful)

In my three instances of mold, never has it come back.

You need to clean whatever they where in as well, bet thing is de natured alcohol.

If the mold isn't in the sticks (like the foot) you are ok and they should be fine to smoke from my experience.

chippewastud79 · 02-12-2009, 04:28 PM

Thats not mold, thats the good stuff

Just wipe it off and replace, should be fine in a week

ucla695 · 02-12-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFox

Take a paper towel or soft cotton cloth.

Gently clean all the mold off.

Get a new paper towel or a new cotton cloth repeat the process.

I usually do three iterations of this to make sure I have gotten as many of the mold spores as humanly possible. I even blow my sticks off after with compressed air (if you do this be careful)

In my three instances of mold, never has it come back.

You need to clean whatever they where in as well, bet thing is de natured alcohol.

If the mold isn't in the sticks (like the foot) you are ok and they should be fine to smoke from my experience.

Solid advice. It doesn't look that bad so they should clean up nicely. Definitely check the feet to make sure they don't have any signs of mold.

I also suggest lowering your RH to prevent this from recurring, which should be easy this time of year.

02-12-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFox

Take a paper towel or soft cotton cloth.

Gently clean all the mold off.

Get a new paper towel or a new cotton cloth repeat the process.

I usually do three iterations of this to make sure I have gotten as many of the mold spores as humanly possible. I even blow my sticks off after with compressed air (if you do this be careful)

In my three instances of mold, never has it come back.

You need to clean whatever they where in as well, bet thing is de natured alcohol.

If the mold isn't in the sticks (like the foot) you are ok and they should be fine to smoke from my experience.

What he said!

I had some RG CE's do the same thing...wiped 'em off and they were fine.

Thrak · 02-12-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFox

Take a paper towel or soft cotton cloth.

Gently clean all the mold off.

Get a new paper towel or a new cotton cloth repeat the process.

I usually do three iterations of this to make sure I have gotten as many of the mold spores as humanly possible. I even blow my sticks off after with compressed air (if you do this be careful)

In my three instances of mold, never has it come back.

You need to clean whatever they where in as well, bet thing is de natured alcohol.

If the mold isn't in the sticks (like the foot) you are ok and they should be fine to smoke from my experience.

I only have 1 humidor, how long does using the denatured alcohol take to clear out? Will I need to reseason it? I've got about 85 sticks in it now . (all are mold free though)

My rh with the old humidifier was 65-66%... I'll keep it out though, since that is where the mold came from. It was only on the non-cello sticks right next to it.

BigAl_SC · 02-12-2009, 05:27 PM

Beads..... Beads.... Beads!!!

They'll get it rock solid at 65 and keep it that way.

02-12-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl_SC

Beads..... Beads.... Beads!!!

They'll get it rock solid at 65 and keep it that way.

Nimbus · 02-12-2009, 06:07 PM

I thought that was plume

Wipe off the mold and smoke the cigars.

Wolfgang · 02-12-2009, 05:55 PM

Thats Plume!

karmaz00 · 02-12-2009, 06:18 PM

get some beads...wipe off the mold.. and you should be good to go

SmoknTaz · 02-12-2009, 07:12 PM

As mentioned, as long as the mold is not in the foot you should be okay. Take a deep breath . . . . . and exhale. Everything will be just fine.

spectrrr · 02-13-2009, 06:33 AM

what needs said has already been said. grab some beads and wipe her down. Bear in mind that a certain amount of mold is always in the air. its when your humidty spikes that you have a problem.
ALSO its when you have a rapid CHANGE in temp. Please, someone that hasnt been up for that last 24 hours straight, remind us how the temp change works? in a nutshell, rapid temp change may not increase the humidity in the air, BUT it can cause extra moisture / water to form on the surface of the sticks, and voila, mold! (learned that one the hard way when I was starting out)

and lastly, there's a REALLY good chance your hydro isnt nearly as accurate as you think it is. foam humidifier "holding steady at 65-66%" suggests to me its highly probable its been holding steady much higher, and just that little spike put you over the edge.... (another one of those been there, done that ones)

Thrak · 02-13-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectrrr

and lastly, there's a REALLY good chance your hydro isnt nearly as accurate as you think it is. foam humidifier "holding steady at 65-66%" suggests to me its highly probable its been holding steady much higher, and just that little spike put you over the edge.... (another one of those been there, done that ones)

sorry, I didnt give complete info.. I've also got 6 drymistat sticks in there. The foam one was to supply additional humidification.

My hygro has been baselined and is -4% on the display, so I do believe it is accurate.

md4958 · 02-13-2009, 09:29 AM

Not to beat a dead horse but...

rember this thread you posted?
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8853

Thrak · 02-13-2009, 09:49 AM

Yes I do

Thx for the beating lol

02-13-2009, 10:20 AM

Beat it!

Da Klugs · 02-13-2009, 10:40 AM

After the wiping, if you are really paranoid ... microwave them for 8-10 seconds each.

Mr B · 02-13-2009, 12:54 PM

I was told by someone recently that after wiping them off to put them onto a sealed mason Jar and place it into a pot of water. Bring it to a boil for x amount of time to kill the spores.
Maybe he will come on here and give the full directions.

02-13-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr B

I was told by someone recently that after wiping them off to put them onto a sealed mason Jar and place it into a pot of water. Bring it to a boil for x amount of time to kill the spores.
Maybe he will come on here and give the full directions.

That might cause the sticks to swell and burst open. At the very least it will harm the flavor.

02-12-2009, 04:23 PM	#1
Thrak .. the man from Nantucket Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canton, GA Posts: 558 Trading: (2)	AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? This is the first time this has happened to me. Like many other BOTL's, I've been fighting to keep my rh at an acceptable level. I grabbed an old style foam humdifier rectangle and used distilled water. Today I went to investigate my stash (since its been 70* here this week) and this is what I found on the cigars closest to it. The other ones had cello on them and I cant find any evidence of mold. I also cannot see anything in the humi itself. I wiped it up with a dry cloth just in case. The mold hasnt spread from these. Anyway to save these, its only evident on the cap? They are H.Upmann CC's from my recent cruise. I'd hate to lose them.

02-12-2009, 04:26 PM	#2
SilverFox Guest Posts: n/a	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? Take a paper towel or soft cotton cloth. Gently clean all the mold off. Get a new paper towel or a new cotton cloth repeat the process. I usually do three iterations of this to make sure I have gotten as many of the mold spores as humanly possible. I even blow my sticks off after with compressed air (if you do this be careful) In my three instances of mold, never has it come back. You need to clean whatever they where in as well, bet thing is de natured alcohol. If the mold isn't in the sticks (like the foot) you are ok and they should be fine to smoke from my experience.

02-12-2009, 04:28 PM	#3
chippewastud79 Fatter than you! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Larry Location: A little place called home. Posts: 5,397 Trading: (44)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? Thats not mold, thats the good stuff Just wipe it off and replace, should be fine in a week __________________ If we weren't supposed to eat animals, then how come they're made of meat? You can never have too many cigars, they are like an investment in good times.

02-12-2009, 05:27 PM	#7
BigAl_SC The last mango in Paris Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Alan Location: Simpsonville, SC Posts: 213 Trading: (7)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? Beads..... Beads.... Beads!!! They'll get it rock solid at 65 and keep it that way. __________________ Coldblooded,calculation,unprincipled,usurper, without a virtue,knowing nothing of commerce,political economy,or civil government,and supplying ignorance by bold presumption. Thomas Jefferson

02-12-2009, 06:07 PM	#9
Nimbus ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: J Posts: 523 Trading: (7)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? I thought that was plume Wipe off the mold and smoke the cigars.

02-12-2009, 05:55 PM	#10
Wolfgang Back from the dead Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 2,541 Trading: (14)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? Thats Plume! __________________ You probably wont remember that test you failed, but you'll never forget the girl you were with the night before, when you decided not to study.

02-12-2009, 06:18 PM	#11
karmaz00 Habanos Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Jason Location: victoria Posts: 1,855 Trading: (1)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? get some beads...wipe off the mold.. and you should be good to go __________________ Habanos Collector Since 2003

02-12-2009, 07:12 PM	#12
SmoknTaz Hiding my Visa bill Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Ken Location: Metro Vancouver Posts: 324 Trading: (6)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? As mentioned, as long as the mold is not in the foot you should be okay. Take a deep breath . . . . . and exhale. Everything will be just fine. __________________ Marriage is not a word. It is a sentence. (A life sentence!)

02-13-2009, 06:33 AM	#13
spectrrr Back in the midwest! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Ohio Posts: 5,596 Trading: (20)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? what needs said has already been said. grab some beads and wipe her down. Bear in mind that a certain amount of mold is always in the air. its when your humidty spikes that you have a problem. ALSO its when you have a rapid CHANGE in temp. Please, someone that hasnt been up for that last 24 hours straight, remind us how the temp change works? in a nutshell, rapid temp change may not increase the humidity in the air, BUT it can cause extra moisture / water to form on the surface of the sticks, and voila, mold! (learned that one the hard way when I was starting out) and lastly, there's a REALLY good chance your hydro isnt nearly as accurate as you think it is. foam humidifier "holding steady at 65-66%" suggests to me its highly probable its been holding steady much higher, and just that little spike put you over the edge.... (another one of those been there, done that ones) __________________ ¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right..." -Thomas Paine Last edited by spectrrr; 02-13-2009 at 06:45 AM.

02-13-2009, 09:29 AM	#15
md4958 Captain Cannoli Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moe Location: Suffield, CT Posts: 5,712 Trading: (62)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? Not to beat a dead horse but... rember this thread you posted? http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8853 __________________ "One fart can foul the air for everyone" - Esteemed philosopher "If avoiding the nasty $hit is being a snob, them I am guilty as charged."- Same esteemed philosopher.

02-13-2009, 09:49 AM	#16
Thrak .. the man from Nantucket Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canton, GA Posts: 558 Trading: (2)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? Yes I do Thx for the beating lol

02-13-2009, 10:20 AM	#17
Hardcz Guest Posts: n/a	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? Beat it!

02-13-2009, 10:40 AM	#18
Da Klugs Juan of 11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Right here Posts: 4,222 Trading: (8)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? After the wiping, if you are really paranoid ... microwave them for 8-10 seconds each. __________________ Communities Not Commodities. Punctuation challenged, but trying. Proud winner of phase 1 of the Weight loss contest

02-13-2009, 12:54 PM	#19
Mr B Livin' in a Van.... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,233 Trading: (79)	Re: AHH!!! MOLD!!! What do I do? I was told by someone recently that after wiping them off to put them onto a sealed mason Jar and place it into a pot of water. Bring it to a boil for x amount of time to kill the spores. Maybe he will come on here and give the full directions.