Salt & distilled water as a humidifier?

Monday, November 29 1999

Q. As a dish of moist salt can be used to calibrate a hygometer, can it be used as a humidifier? For example, a container of salt that has no chemical additives, wet with distilled water. It would be easy to check to see if it needed more water, right?
- Joseph V.

A. Good question, and it would appear to make sense, too, but the scenario you describe would require way too much maintenance. Moreover, the evaporating salt may cause your cigars to take on a salty taste. I've had a few cigars that had a salty taste (for reasons unknown) and it ruined my enjoyment of the cigar.

Stick to using salt & distilled water only for testing your hygrometer, and use a reliable humidifier for keeping your cigars fresh.