Keeping Your Battery Clean

Was there actually a time when your vehicle required jumpstarting, and your battery was barely visible through all the gunk? That kind of gunk that covers the battery is actually corrosion formed by acid condensation. It may be cleaned by a basic chemical solution, since it has been formed by an acid. Something as simple as baking soda could easily clean the battery acid. You need to take some safety measures, but safe cleaning of your battery is only following a few instructions.

Safety First

You have got to first find the supplies you need, most of which are in your home. You basically need safety glasses covering your eyes, baking soda, adaptable pliers, and screwdrivers with insulated handles and a stiff-bristled brush. Other accessories you need include a metal or plastic scraper, box or open-end wrenches, cleaning brushes for the battery terminal, and either a turkey baster or small funnel. A few sponges or maybe clean cloths, a spray bottle with an all-purpose household cleaner, some rubber gloves, and a large container of clean water. It may seem like a lot of stuff to clean the equipment, but it will keep it safe and non-hazardous.

A lot of the corrosive by-products possess sulfuric acid, so it is a wise idea to use the safety glasses to protect your eyes, and the rubber gloves for your hands. You’ll want to keep this substance away from your car, because it can eat away the paint. Depending on how corroded the battery might be, the amount of cleaning that is needed will be different. To be able to totally get rid of the dirt and corrosion, you will need to take the battery out of the vehicle. First, use the plastic or metal scraper to get off just about any dirt it is possible to, and also use the bristle brush.

Making the Cleaning Solution

The next thing to perform should be to mix one tablespoon of baking soda along with one pint of water then use it to clean the battery and the cable connections using the turkey baster. Work the formula of baking soda inside the heavily corroded areas with the brush, and disconnect the battery cables from the terminals for easier cleaning. You’ll be able to take away the cables, starting with negative first then positive, using the pliers and wrenches. For those terminals and other parts, utilize the brush again to remove the corrosion and do a flush using the baking soda solution.

You can use the bottle of spray cleaner and sponge to get rid of any excess dirt and grease. Dry everything off using a clean cloth and reassemble everything the way you took it apart, reconnecting the positive first. Lastly, be sure that everything is anchored and now you have a clean and safe battery.