Sometimes car batteries leak battery acid, and as a result corrosion can collect on the battery’s terminals. If you notice your car’s battery has corrosion, you’ll want to clean it as soon as possible. This post explains how to clean car battery corrosion with baking soda, water, and a battery terminal cleaner tool fast and easy.
How to Clean Corrosion Off Your Car Battery
Items Needed
- Protective eye wear
- Gloves
- Baking soda
- Water
- Battery terminal cleaner tool
- Cleaning brush
- Battery protector spray
- Drain pan
- Cloth rag
Wear protective gloves and goggles. If battery acid is in the corrosion, it can burn your eyes and skin, contaminate the environment, and destroy other items like clothing.
Place a catch pan underneath the battery to catch any corrosion that drains off the battery.
How to Remove Battery Corrosion
How to Remove Battery Corrosion in 13 Steps
- Mix baking soda and water together
Place an amount of baking soda into a container and mix it with water
- Place a drain pan underneath the battery
Put a drain pan underneath the battery to catch any corrosion that washes off with the water
- Pour the mixture over the battery terminals and the terminal connector
Lightly pour the mixture over the battery terminals and let the corrosion mix with the solution. Gently pour water over the solution to wash it away and let it collect in the drain pan
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal
Loosen the bolt and disconnect the negative battery terminal first
- Disconnect the positive battery terminal
Disconnect the positive battery terminal second
- Check the condition of the battery terminals and clean them
See how much corrosion has collected on the battery terminals. Clean them with a brush if necessary
- If needed, place the terminal in a solution of baking soda and water
If the terminal needs more corrosion removed, place it in a container of baking soda and water and let it sit in the solution for a few minutes
- Clean the battery posts with a battery terminal cleaner tool
While the terminal sits in the solution, clean the battery posts with a battery terminal cleaner tool
- Remove the terminal from the solution and remove any corrosion
If the terminal was cleaning in the solution, remove it and remove any corrosion with a brush
- Clean the terminal and the battery posts with a rag
Dry the terminal and the battery posts with a rag
- Reconnect the positive battery terminal
First, reconnect the positive battery terminal
- Reconnect the negative battery Terminal
Second, reconnect the negative battery terminal
- Spray the terminals with battery protector
To protect the terminals, spray them with battery protector
Read here for an extensive guide on how to clean your battery
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