How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion

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

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.

Fix car battery corrosion yourself with quality auto parts and tools at 1aauto.com

How to Remove Battery Corrosion

How to Remove Battery Corrosion in 13 Steps

  1. Mix baking soda and water together

    Place an amount of baking soda into a container and mix it with water

  2. Place a drain pan underneath the battery

    Put a drain pan underneath the battery to catch any corrosion that washes off with the water

  3. 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

  4. Disconnect the negative battery terminal

    Loosen the bolt and disconnect the negative battery terminal first

  5. Disconnect the positive battery terminal

    Disconnect the positive battery terminal second

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Clean the terminal and the battery posts with a rag

    Dry the terminal and the battery posts with a rag

  11. Reconnect the positive battery terminal

    First, reconnect the positive battery terminal

  12. Reconnect the negative battery Terminal

    Second, reconnect the negative battery terminal

  13. 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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How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion - Expert Tips - 1A Auto
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How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion - Expert Tips - 1A Auto
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Learn how to clean car battery corrosion quickly and easily with these simple steps from real mechanics in this article and video.
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1A Auto
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