One Of My Worst Cigar Fears Happened, Mold…

This may sound overdramatic to some, but I feel sick to my stomach after finding this today.
https://i.imgur.com/ZP8fdS6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/axRKv6I.jpg
And yes those are 12 Anejo sticks I got back in April of 20 iirc. I have to check my little book to verify, either way I’ve had them a while.

And I honestly have no idea how it happened, I have done everything I can think of to avoid mold, at all cost.

I have them stored in the center of the house, not next to windows, or doors. I only use Boveda packs, 62% currently and for the past 2 years, but have also used 65% before. I have 2-3 hygrometers in each humidor, that I calibrate at least once a year, but usually every 6 months. I quarantine everything in a special humidor, visually inspect all singles for mold/bugs, before they go in either of my bigger units. The only exception is boxes, in my other humidor, the footlocker. I open the box and give them a good look, but don’t take them out of the box. The temp is typically 68 in winter 69 in Sumer,,,etc, etc, etc… I’m doing everything I can think of/read about, to not let this happen, but it did.

Heck, I even throughly wash my hands before touching the inside of the humidors, or any of the cigars. Just to avoid introducing oils, dirt, etc…

I obviously took the Anejo sticks in the pictures out, have them in a ziplock. From here what should I do? As I’m sure many of you can sympathize with, there is a lot of money in those humidors, and this being the first time ever dealing with something like this, it’s got me concerned.

I really need some advice on how to proceed, so I don’t lose all my cigars and possibly the humidor.

Thanks!
Chris

In the past I have noticed some smokes with cedar sleeve have mold problems when I took the sleeve off. Don't know if that is a reason

I have been a just wipe it or nip the end off with a cutter and see how deep it is. If its just surface then I smoke away. I know there are plenty of people who are more sensitive then I am to mold. If it seems like its molding from the inside out then, it may be a lost cause. Based on the picture it may be just a little surface issue you have caught early and are saveable,

I agree with both Ryan and Jerry- I have also noticed mold with cedar wrapped sticks. And just last week I had a stick (an Anejo actually!) that had a small amount of mold on the foot- I slightly panicked, but then cut about a quarter inch off and carefully inspected it. Looked good so I lit up and im alive to tell the story. That really sucks tho man especially with all the effort u put into avoiding such issues. Im guessing if u only noticed them on the Anejos that they got cedar wrapped while still too wet and the cedar trapped some moisture- just my thoughts. Good luck man!


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I will 2nd what others have said. I have had a few that I saw some mold left in a plastic bag that may have been too moist. I have wiped if its on the wrapper and it smoked fine. Another had some on the foot I trimmed a 1/4 inch no mold and I toasted the foot really well to kill anything before cutting the other end to smoke and I am still alive I think?

Agree with everything already said. Have seen many instances of people saying they got mold with the cedar sleeves. Most check to make sure it's not throughout the whole cigars and smoke it.

Appreciate the help everyone!

Out of curiosity though, wouldn’t the cedar wrapped Anejos have started to mold much sooner after getting them? I went back to my little inventory book, I’ve had them since April of 2020. Doesn’t that seems an awful long time, to suddenly have mold on the foot?

Aside from going through and inspecting every single cigar in that humidor, as well as it’s trays, and walls, etc… Is there anything else I should be doing? There are a couple hundred sticks in there. Should I be doing anything to protect them, or just leave them if a visual inspection turns up nothing?

I just want to stop it dead in its tracks, I’m sure you all can understand.

Spot checks a bit more often for a while. There is a good chance it has nothing to do with your setup and may have more to do with how they were stored before you got them. Mold is basically everywhere it just takes right conditions to spread. As long as it is not throughout the cigar you should be fine.

I will definitely spot check more often, from now on. I looked through the humidor where the Anejo sticks were, and didn’t see anything on the cedar tray they were on. I also did a spot check of the cigars, especially the ones that were sitting up against them.

Should I take the cello off the sticks that the Anejos were sitting on, and up against? Or just leave them be, unless I see something suspicious?

I am planning to inspect EVERY cigar in that humidor tomorrow, as well as take all the trays out and inspect the wood all over. As bad as it hurts, it looks like those dozen Anejos all have it on the foot. So I will not be putting any of them back in.

I hate that I lost them, I had been letting them rest for the past 20 months. So it’s not just money lost, but time, and patience.

I’m also going to have to look through the footlocker. Take everything out of their boxes, and inspect everything. The Anejos had been in their since April 2020, I had only just moved them ( about 2 weeks ago ) to the larger unit, to start smoking them more often, since they were almost 2 years old.

Honestly I prefer cello on i have never seen a cello stick with mold. Cello is porous but I see it as extra protection. I don't think the sticks are a lost cause

I wouldn’t scrap those if it just appears to be on the foot. If it was just in one location of your humidor, an occasional rotation may help. Unwrap the cedar sleeve on one or two for inspection. If it is limited to just the surface on the foot, I would smoke away. I understand that not everyone has the same tolerance like @Tombstone has stated, though.


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Originally Posted by josh lucky 13

Honestly I prefer cello on i have never seen a cello stick with mold. Cello is porous but I see it as extra protection. I don't think the sticks are a lost cause

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I also prefer keeping the cello on.

As for those Anejo sticks,
I’m going to look at the ones that are the least affected, a bit more closely. Heck I smoked one of them Friday, before seeing this, and thought it was fantastic.

I think I might have freaked out and overreacted a bit, it just caught me so off guard. I immediately had nightmarish thoughts of having to sterilize the humidor, take hundreds of sticks and keep them in tupperdors, as to not allow it to spread, etc…

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Originally Posted by Nature

I wouldn’t scrap those if it just appears to be on the foot. If it was just in one location of your humidor, an occasional rotation may help. Unwrap the cedar sleeve on one or two for inspection. If it is limited to just the surface on the foot, I would smoke away. I understand that not everyone has the same tolerance like @Tombstone has stated, though.


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Thanks
I was posting while you were, I will be looking at them tomorrow. They are in double ziplocks with a Boveda pack right now.

Also, thanks you everyone!

I meant to ask,
As I go through the humidor, checking each individual cigar, obviously I need to quarantine any I find with it on them, or on their cello, similar to the Anejos.

However, if I don’t see any more of this white mold anywhere on the sticks, or on the trays, wood, etc… is there anything I should do special. That hasn’t been suggested already? Is it “safe” to start putting newly purchase cigars in it like normal, or should I hold off for a bit?

Also, if I do see it on the wood, or on the tray, is it best to get rid of it, or try to clean it? What would be the best method, for dealing with it in, or on, the wood?

Thanks!
Chris

If I found mold on wood (which should be hard if Spanish cedar) i would potentially wipe off with anti bacteria wipes then dry and reseason

Thanks Josh,

Yes the trays and interior wood is all Spanish cedar. So far I have not found any mold anywhere else, thank God.

Wiping the wood trays with 70% rubbing alcohol could be an extra precaution. A dilute bleach solution (1 oz per 16 oz water) would also work, but could bleach or stain the wood or raise the grain. As is oft directed “test in an inconspicuous area” first. Either solution should be in contact for 5 min for best effectiveness. Allow to air dry.

I don’t think it necessary if you don’t see anything on the wood, but I might do this with the tray where you found the cigars with mold.

Thanks Mark,
If I continue to not find more mold anywhere, I might just wipe off the section where the Anejo sticks were. Before putting anything new or different in that spot.

I’m also planning to rotate my cigars more often. I used to do it about every 6 months, but after this, I’m thinking every 2-3 months.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LazyLightning

Thanks Mark,
If I continue to not find more mold anywhere, I might just wipe off the section where the Anejo sticks were. Before putting anything new or different in that spot.

I’m also planning to rotate my cigars more often. I used to do it about every 6 months, but after this, I’m thinking every 2-3 months.

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Chris, I think you have been given great advice. What vitola are those Anejos?

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

Chris, I think you have been given great advice. What vitola are those Anejos?

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They are the Anejo Reserva No.46

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Originally Posted by LazyLightning

They are the Anejo Reserva No.46

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I fear https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...00603b2315.jpg

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Originally Posted by josh lucky 13

I fear https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...00603b2315.jpg

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Good ole Admiral Ackbar

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Originally Posted by josh lucky 13

I fear https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...00603b2315.jpg

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Be vewy vewy qwiet, I'm hunting wabbits. :)

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

Be vewy vewy qwiet, I'm hunting wabbits. :)

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I tried to warn people when you shipped your ss package. I try to warn people here. I know the destruction you can bring!

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Originally Posted by josh lucky 13

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My brain apparently took far to long to catch on…

I want to thank each and every one of you for helping me through this.
I am almost through all the cigars in that humidor, and so far no mold on any of them, or on the trays/wood. I’m grateful I caught it early, especially after seeing some nightmare fuel online, of humidors overrun with it.

I’ll update when I completely done with it.

I’m glad to hear you caught it early on. Did you wipe off the 46’s and clip off the foot of the worst offenders for inspection? They appeared to all be salvageable.

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

I’m glad to hear you caught it early on. Did you wipe off the 46’s and clip off the foot of the worst offenders for inspection? They appeared to all be salvageable.

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Thanks Steve,
I took all the cedar sleeves off, and found there was no mold at all on the wrappers, of the Anejos. Just the bit on the foot seen in the images. I cut approximately 1/2” off of each one, and all I saw was tobacco. I’m setting up another small tupperdor for them, I just don’t feel comfortable putting them back in with the rest.

From now on, all cedar sleeves on any stick, will be removed immediately.

I still have the bottom level to go through, about 60-80 more cigars. I am hopeful none of them will have an issue either. Then it’s time to put everything back in. :stogie:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LazyLightning

Thanks Steve,
I took all the cedar sleeves off, and found there was no mold at all on the wrappers, of the Anejos. Just the bit on the foot seen in the images. I cut approximately 1/2” off of each one, and all I saw was tobacco. I’m setting up another small tupperdor for them, I just don’t feel comfortable putting them back in with the rest.

From now on, all cedar sleeves on any stick, will be removed immediately.

I still have the bottom level to go through, about 60-80 more cigars. I am hopeful none of them will have an issue either. Then it’s time to put everything back in. :stogie:

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Chris, it sounds like you are going to come through this in good shape. Because of what you found I am going to check my cedar sleeved cigars when I organize soon to make sure I'm not having the same problem.

Well, I had a lot of help from you guys.

I know, I’m going to go through my footlocker next week, just to make sure, all my sleeping boxes are ok. This can make you paranoid if you let it, lol!

I’ve wondered, at least in a wood humidor, if the introduction of small fans to gently circulate the air inside might help also? I would think, it would cut down on “dead spots”, but I’ll have to research before doing anything like that.

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Originally Posted by LazyLightning

Well, I had a lot of help from you guys.

I know, I’m going to go through my footlocker next week, just to make sure, all my sleeping boxes are ok. This can make you paranoid if you let it, lol!

I’ve wondered, at least in a wood humidor, if the introduction of small fans to gently circulate the air inside might help also? I would think, it would cut down on “dead spots”, but I’ll have to research before doing anything like that.

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I would imagine a fan would certainly help Chris. Do you get into get into the footlocker very often? Maybe just burping it once in a while would be sufficient? But I'm no expert so hopefully someone else will chime in.

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

I would imagine a fan would certainly help Chris. Do you get into get into the footlocker very often? Maybe just burping it once in a while would be sufficient? But I'm no expert so hopefully someone else will chime in.

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I was checking it about the same amount I had been checking the bigger humi. After all this, I think my rotations, and visual inspections, will be more often.

I am still looking into a small fan or two, for the big one. However there is a lot of mixed information out there, on that subject.

Sorry, I thought I updated this the other day.

I was able to save 7 out of 11 of the Anejos, only lost about 1/2” on each. They are in a separate tupperdor, I don’t feel comfortable putting them back in the big humidor. I couldn’t find mold on any more cigars, or on the wood. Finally got it all back together, and was able to put my most recent order in there too.

I want to thank all of you again, for all the help!

I plan to rotate/inspect, much more often than the every 6 months I had been. Also, no more cedar sleeves, those are coming off everything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LazyLightning

Sorry, I thought I updated this the other day.

I was able to save 7 out of 11 of the Anejos, only lost about 1/2” on each. They are in a separate tupperdor, I don’t feel comfortable putting them back in the big humidor. I couldn’t find mold on any more cigars, or on the wood. Finally got it all back together, and was able to put my most recent order in there too.

I want to thank all of you again, for all the help!

I plan to rotate/inspect, much more often than the every 6 months I had been. Also, no more cedar sleeves, those are coming off everything.

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Thankfully there was minimal damage.

I may have jumped the gun, calling all clear.

I picked one out today, and it had a small amount of mold on the foot also (not a cedar wrapped one, and it wasn’t in cello), I might have missed it, when I went through them the first time. So, I took everything out again, and put them in ziplocks, with Boveda packs. I have very bad double vision sometimes from when I hit my head, and broke my neck, in 2015. So I asked my wife to look at the trays and wood again. There is at least 2 “quarter” sized areas, with what looks like a sprinkling of snow white mold on the wood.

I guess I need to get a couple more tupperdors set up, until I can sort this out.

I was so relieved I had caught it in time, just to take a gut punch like this again.

Ok,
Where should I go from here? It’s been suggested to me to use either rubbing alcohol, or Everclear.

Is there a special kind of cloth best suited, microfiber, etc…? Should I wipe down every part of the interior ( walls, lid, floor, trays, hygrometers ), or just the section where the mold is present? Do the 8 x 320g Boveda packs all need to be tossed out, so I don’t reintroduced the mold? Would it also be a good idea to also use the cloth and the cleaning solution, to wipe down all cigars in cellophane, and if so, what about sticks not in cellophane?

Afterwards, once it is air dried, I know I’ll have to season it again.

I’m trying so hard not to blow this out of proportion, and I apologize if I am.

Thanks for any help.

I would say start with what you are comfortable with. I think for your piece of mind you want a full clean. Good sanitize of all internal. If you its needed toss the boveda. I have heard. That the wrapper of a cigars is water proof and heard that some will wet the wrapper for more smoke production. I would wipe with distilled water maybe all cello and non cello but personally thats not a step I would do.

This is my plan, from everything that’s been suggested by you guys, as well as some stuff I have done A LOT of reading about.

I think for my peace of mind, and be able to eradicate the mold for good, I’m going to clean everything inside the humidor ( not just the 2 spots I see mold ). I feel Everclear is the best option, since it’s 190 proof. I have a brand new Microfiber Suede Polishing Cloth, the kind I use on my guitars. I will use that to wipe everything down with ( hygrometers included ) I am also going to throw out all the 320g Boveda bricks in there, since I’m going to have to season it again anyhow. I might as well start off with new humidity packs.

I think I will also wipe off all cellophane wrapped sticks, the same way, with Everclear. I still haven’t decided what to do with the ones that aren’t in cello.

Then once it’s completely dried out, as stated above, I will start the seasoning process over. Hopefully say goodbye to the mold, for good.

Anyone see any problems with what I’m about to do? Part of me is thinking after it’s clean, only putting new cigars in it, and keep everything that was in it, in a tupperdor. Just not even chance it coming back, but is that overkill, since I plan to wipe off the cello sticks at the very least?

On a side note, apparently there is a shortage of Tupperware, lol! Only when you need it…

This is the size of tupperdor I use. Its basically a file box with a rubber sealhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b5338be4b8.jpg

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Thanks Josh!

So my wife comes home today, and says, why don’t you just chalk the humidor up to a possible secondary unit, and use this experience to set up a wineador I’m intrigued, of course, wonder what a small unit would run me? Lmao!