When someone is first learning about cigars and how to best enjoy them, they will find that there are all kinds of cigar accessories that can enhance the experience. One of the most important items they will quickly discover is the humidor, and though these are usually well-made from such beneficial materials as different cedar woods, they must be properly prepared and monitored to get the best results.

How do you prepare and monitor a box? Well, it isn’t all that difficult, but it does require some effort and patience. Most cigar enthusiasts will end up owning at least one humidor, and they will have to first “season” it to ensure that the wood has enough moisture inside of it to allow for the best conditions. For example, most experts tell people to create a 70/70 environment to get good results. This means that the humidors should be kept at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and that the interior humidity level should be at least 70% too.

How do you know what the interior humidity levels are? You must purchase a small device known as a hygrometer. These come in a wide range of styles, including digital options, but almost all will have to be calibrated by the new owner before they can be used for accurate measurement. Now, calibrating a hygrometer is not at all difficult and requires only a few basic materials. If this procedure is not done, the individual will find that their readings could be inconsistent and inaccurate which leads to damaged or even ruined cigars.

You calibrate a hygrometer by using a plastic Zip top bag, a small amount of regular table salt, and a small shallow container. The salt is put into the container, and a few drops of water are sprinkled on the surface. The salt is only dampened and not converted to a saline solution. This container is then put into the Zip top bag with the hygrometer and then the bag is sealed along with a pocket of air. The entire thing is left alone for a minimum of six hours.

The hygrometer should take a reading of 75% humidity from the conditions inside of the bag, and if this is not what is shown on the display, the owner has two options. They can manually adjust the meter to read 75% under those conditions, or they can simply make a note of the total points in difference and use those points to understand what the actual humidity levels might be in the future.