I can't seem to get the humidity down in my wine-a-dor.  I came across this at the Dollar Tree for, well one dollar.  It is calcium chloride dihydrate, or Damp Rid.  Little white pellets.  Has anyone ever used this in their humidor, temporarily, to get the humidity down?

I used it in a few closets and it was worthless.

Ha, ok.  I guess that would help.

I have a NewAir CC-100 refrigerator humidor.  It's a custom wine-a-dor with cedar shelves and drawer.  I loaded it up and followed all the directions, plugged the hole, put a tray of distilled water and a digital hygrometer in there, properly calibrated.  I basically set it and forget it, and pretty much stopped smoking for a while.  I checked the humidity occasionally and it looked good enough.  around 72.  Well I got the urge to smoke one and opened it up.  There was water puddled in the bottom and mold was rampant.  White mold.  I freaked and took everything out, did the alcohol wash on all the cedar, rubbed down all sticks, took all precautions and saved MOST of the cigars.  So, after a few days airing out I've stuck them all back in.  I left the hole unplugged, no hydration at all, and monitored.  84% humidity with NO water or beads etc.  So the other night I went to Petsmart and got a bag of excuisicat.  Stuff worked great.  Slowly dropped the humidity to 74%, but not enough.  Then I saw this stuff at the dollar tree and bought it.  It has no smell at all.  I stuck it in there last night and as I write this the humidity is now at 64%.  I'm about to pull it back out but I can't find the sweet spot to keep this NewAir thingy around 68% or so.


Edit - I've pulled it out.  At 64% I'm hoping it stabilizes around 66-68%.  Plugged the hole, only kitty litter in there.  I love that stuff by the way.  7lbs for 13 bucks and works like a champ.

Thanks for the reply!  I read it too late though because I already put the sticks back in.  As of right now the humidity is holding steady at 66-67%, with nothing but sticks and silica gel (KL) in there.  I'm happy now.  I always heard that you had to supply humidity like distilled water but that is apparently not true, particularly in the NewAir.  Now, the question remains did I do any permanent damage to my cigars.  Time will tell I guess but I think a few of them will still be fine.  Thanks again.

Holding steady at 67% all day long today.  I'm hoping I've got this under control.  Thanks again!