Distilled or Deionised?

[Pommy Puffer]

If you go to the cubancigarwebsite.com, click on cigars, and then humidors, you will see it stated that only distilled water should be used because deionised ''does not significantly remove uncharged organic molecules, viruses or bacteria, except by incidental trapping in the resin''

Here in London I cannot get distilled water anywhere. Halfords sent me to Leylands builders merchants who have told me that they are exactly the same, and that I should just use a cabbage leaf (but not too moist, mind) like he used to with his RyJ No.2's.  I didn't like the 'used to' bit,so I'm not going there if you don't mind!

Now I'm starting to think along the lines of purified, demineralised or even sanctified.  But will stick with deionised for now along with the humidification solution.

[Ryan]

Don't use a cabbage leaf, or an apple core, they go moldy very quickly.

Distilled water is distilled, as in , boiled off and re-condensed, producing very pure water.

De-ionised water is pushed through various types of filters.

Both will remove dissolved impurities, salts and metals.

de-ionised water can have organic impurities left behind, viruses, bacteria, but these generally won't affect humidifiers or cigars. Fungii will

So distilled water is generally purer, they are similar but not the same.

Go to a local chemist shop/pharmacy if you have one, not a chain like Boots, and ask for distilled water.

Most chemist shops sell it but not openly, you have to ask for it. If they happen to ask what it's for and you think they may have an issue with you smoking, tell them it's for a humidifier for a guitar/musical instrument case.

There's no point buying too much (like 5 litres). 500 mls/1 litre will do, as each time you open it, there will be mold spores landing in it, eventually making it unusable anyway. 

[shlomo]

Distilled should be in any respectable apothecary/ pharmacy as mentioned above.

 

[Pommy Puffer]

Cheers guys,

Have already tried them, closest I got was purified, or distilled industrial size from various websites!

Think deionised will do for now.

[SonGoku]

I cannot get distilled water here in Denmark either. So I bought it on amazon.de. A 2 liter bottle. I’m sure the co.uk version will have some as well.

[cfc1016]

Just use bovedas???
Or buy a 4-5 stage reverse osmosis/deionization filter with TDS meter and make your own.

 

[CaptainQuintero]

Don't use deionised with beads apparently it will block them up and kill them.

You can get a litre of distilled for a fiver off eBay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Distilled-Water-Various-Sizes-FREE-Fast-UK-Shipping-Trusted-UK-Seller/121070029632?var=&hash=item1c30560b40

[BarryVT]

I am also surprised at the lack of distilled water where you live. In the US it is at every store you go to, even find it at some gas stations. It's actually recommended to mix with baby formula for infants because of its purity.

[JGD]

2 hours ago, cfc1016 said:

Just use bovedas???
Or buy a 4-5 stage reverse osmosis/deionization filter with TDS meter and make your own.

 

This. 

What are you currently using? If it’s a foam insert that you need to add distilled water to use, I would suggest that you toss it and just use bovedas. They are more accurate, give you more options for your humidity level, and are essentially fool-proof. Plus, the foam inserts have trouble with mold. 

Now, if you have a large cabinet and you are using a unit that needs a reservoir filled with distilled water, then you should use amazon.

[MD Puffer]

Sooo, why is it difficult to get distilled water in Denmark and England?

[aphexafx]

8 minutes ago, MD Puffer said:

Sooo, why is it difficult to get distilled water in Denmark and England?

Also curious. ???

 

4 hours ago, Ryan said:

Most chemist shops sell it but not openly, you have to ask for it. If they happen to ask what it's for and you think they may have an issue with you smoking, tell them it's for a humidifier for a guitar/musical instrument case.

Whaaa?  They keep it in the back and question what you'll use it for?  Seriously?

 

But, yeah...Boveda all the way.

[CaptainQuintero]

  You can get deionised easily enough, distilled is pretty much an online thing, not sure why but it's cheap enough.

[kevpro]

Apparently you can try an auto store?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/england-uk-cpap-users-distilled-water

 

Also, this is an entertaining read for any other Americans who didn't know what a Chemist shop was ?

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/10/6-differences-american-drugstores-british-chemists

[Ryan]

2 hours ago, aphexafx said:

Whaaa?  They keep it in the back and question what you'll use it for?  Seriously?

They keep it in the back as it's bought by the pharmacist for their own use in the shop. It's used to clean equipment, make up solutions etc. Though many will sell it if asked.

I can't remember ever being asked by a pharmacist what I need it for but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that a pharmacist may have qualms in helping a customer enhance their smoking experience.

[BarryVT]

41 minutes ago, kevpro said:

Apparently you can try an auto store?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/england-uk-cpap-users-distilled-water

 

Also, this is an entertaining read for any other Americans who didn't know what a Chemist shop was ?

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/10/6-differences-american-drugstores-british-chemists

Very interesting article on chemist shop vs drugstore. Yes the drugstores here such as Walgreens or cvs, are like miniature grocery stores, just don't carry as much product. But you don't have to ask for distilled water! Lol. I'm still bewildered by this distilled water topic. Most places here it's about $1 a gallon.

[Pommy Puffer]

2 hours ago, JGD said:

This. 

What are you currently using? If it’s a foam insert that you need to add distilled water to use, I would suggest that you toss it and just use bovedas. They are more accurate, give you more options for your humidity level, and are essentially fool-proof. Plus, the foam inserts have trouble with mold. 

Now, if you have a large cabinet and you are using a unit that needs a reservoir filled with distilled water, then you should use amazon.

I am currently using a desk top humidor.  So when I 'toss' my foam insert humidifier to the four winds, does that mean the Bovedas are not going to suck all of the moisture out of my prized cigars just to keep the humidor at the correct humidity level?

[aphexafx]

9 minutes ago, Pommy Puffer said:

I am currently using a desk top humidor.  So when I 'toss' my foam insert humidifier to the four winds, does that mean the Bovedas are not going to suck all of the moisture out of my prized cigars just to keep the humidor at the correct humidity level?

The correct ambient RH (humidity level) within your humidor, whatever that is for you, is dictated by the moisture content you wish to maintain in your cigars.  The Bovedas will add or remove humidity to maintain their stated RH.

[Pommy Puffer]

6 minutes ago, aphexafx said:

The correct ambient RH (humidity level) within your humidor, whatever that is for you, is dictated by the moisture content you wish to maintain in your cigars.  The Bovedas will add or remove humidity to maintain their stated RH.

So if the Bovy Boys will add the humidity to my stated RH wishes, after I had 'tossed',  the humidifier of course, that the Bovy Boys (Bovedas), would still be able to function without seizing up?

[aphexafx]

Just now, Pommy Puffer said:

So if the Bovy Boys will add the humidity to my stated RH wishes, after I had 'tossed',  the humidifier of course, that the Bovy Boys (Bovedas), would still be able to function without seizing up?

A Boveda is a humidifier, or a desiccant, automatically.

The Bovedas are simply two-way regulators made from a salt solution and a water vapor membrane, so they will either absorb moisture or release it in order to attempt to maintain a specific RH within your micro-environment (humidor).  Their success in doing this relies mainly upon the quality of the seal that maintains your humidor.  In a near 100% sealed environment such as a 6-mil poly bag, they are very accurate to within 1% of their stated RH level.  In a desktop humidor they are fighting against the quality of your seal and may fall slightly below or above their stated RH due to moisture loss or gain to/from the outside.  If that's the case, since the quality of your seal is constant, you may compensate by using slightly higher or lower RH Boveda packs.

They will simply maintain some RH within your humidor and the moisture content of your cigars will follow suit. ?

[Pommy Puffer]

I appreciate all your meaningful, and helpful solutions , but no one has addressed the original question here.

What happens to the equation when there is no humidifier present?

[aphexafx]

28 minutes ago, Pommy Puffer said:

I appreciate all your meaningful, and helpful solutions , but no one has addressed the original question here.

What happens to the equation when there is no humidifier present?

I don't see where you've asked about removing humidification all together.  Unless you live in a very humid location, your cigars will likely dry out without some form of humidifier present.  The generally recommended range for maintaining Cuban cigars is around 58% - 70% RH (depending on your opinion) and it is unlikely that you can maintain this inside the bulk volume of your home.

I only see that you've asked what will happen if you toss your humidifier in lieu of a Boveda.  The answer is that the Boveda is a humidifier when it needs to be.  The Boveda replaces your old humidifier and would passively maintain the RH in your humidor.  So, it would be humidifying your cigars.

[shippers]

22 minutes ago, Pommy Puffer said:

I appreciate all your meaningful, and helpful solutions , but no one has addressed the original question here.

What happens to the equation when there is no humidifier present?

In the UK? Depends on the time of year. In the winter not a great deal maybe a risk of mould (at least in my flat as rh gets around 70+). Summer as ambient rh drops cigars lose essential oils and burn harshly. Even after regaining moisture they taste flat. Would do like the rest suggest and get boveda or beads with distilled (I use both in my cabinet humidor).

[SonGoku]

3 hours ago, MD Puffer said:

Sooo, why is it difficult to get distilled water in Denmark and England?

I know there is different grades of purity. And that for injections you need medical grade purity. But I think it has something to do with that you can use it for injections. So you need a prescription from a doctor to be able to buy from the pharmacy.

I seem to remember I found one place online where they sold the purity used for car batteries but the price very high and the shipping even worse. So cheaper to get from Amazon in Germany.

[TheMonk]

9 hours ago, Ryan said:

Don't use a cabbage leaf, or an apple core, they go moldy very quickly.

Distilled water is distilled, as in , boiled off and re-condensed, producing very pure water.

De-ionised water is pushed through various types of filters.

Both will remove dissolved impurities, salts and metals.

de-ionised water can have organic impurities left behind, viruses, bacteria, but these generally won't affect humidifiers or cigars. Fungii will

So distilled water is generally purer, they are similar but not the same.

Go to a local chemist shop/pharmacy if you have one, not a chain like Boots, and ask for distilled water.

Most chemist shops sell it but not openly, you have to ask for it. If they happen to ask what it's for and you think they may have an issue with you smoking, tell them it's for a humidifier for a guitar/musical instrument case.

There's no point buying too much (like 5 litres). 500 mls/1 litre will do, as each time you open it, there will be mold spores landing in it, eventually making it unusable anyway. 

This is very good advice, that most people don't follow. Don't buy too much DW at once, it somewhat defeats the purpose of it.

[Shelby07]

I know it’s not what you asked, but it looks like there are several ways to make distilled water at home. Doesn’t seem too difficult. Lots of links available.