How to Clean Battery Posts and Eliminate Corrosion

If you are having car battery issues and are thinking about buying a replacement, you may be able to save your money. Battery corrosion can be responsible for your car’s difficulty starting and is easy to fix by simply cleaning the battery. If your battery is fine but you want to keep it in good working order, cleaning is also a good maintenance practice. Even deep battery cleaning is easy and can be done by following a few simple steps.

Directions

1

Gather Your Tools

For this project, you will need baking soda, water, and three 12-oz. containers. You will also want gloves, a toothbrush or a wire brush, petroleum jelly, and a wrench.

2

Make Your Cleaning Solution

Fill each container with 8 oz. of water. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to each cup and stir until the baking soda is dissolved.

3

Remove the Battery Cables

*a) The battery cable connects to your battery with a rounded end called a terminal that goes over your battery post. Locate the battery post and terminal on your battery and make sure that you have chosen a wrench that will work.
*b) Remove the negative cable first and then remove the positive cable. This will prevent any accidents if your wrench touches metal while you are working.

4

Start Soaking

*a) Pour a small portion of your cleaning solution from one container onto the corroded parts of the battery. Allow it to sit for a few minutes to begin working on the corrosion.
*b) Soak your terminal ends in the two remaining cups. Allow them to sit and clean for approximately 20 minutes.

5

Break out Safety Gear

Put on safety glasses and a face mask. It is time to clean each battery post, and the corrosion and battery acid can be dangerous if you inhale it or get it in your eyes.

6

Begin Deep Cleaning

Start scrubbing each battery post with the toothbrush or wire brush. Use some of the extra cleaning solution that you have saved to pour over the posts and continue to brush until corrosion is no longer visible.

7

Check Your Terminals

Clean your soaking battery cable terminals. Scrub them with your toothbrush until they are clean.

8

Remove Your Solution

After you have cleaned everything, rinse it off with clean water. Use paper towels to make sure everything is completely dry.

9

Do a Final Cleaning

Use a piece of sandpaper to scrub off any remaining residue. Your battery posts should be completely clean when you are done.

10

Wrap Up

Coat the battery cable terminals with petroleum jelly. Reattach them to the battery posts, beginning with the positive cable and ending with the negative one.

Before you spend your hard-earned money on a new car battery, consider taking the time to clean the one you have. A thorough cleaning can be done in less than half an hour and is easy enough that even a novice can do it. Maintenance cleanings are even easier, and because they don’t involve soaking the battery terminals, can be done in less than 15 minutes. Following these simple steps can save you money and prolong your battery’s life.