How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion

If your car battery starts slow or won't start at all, the battery, battery cable or battery terminals may be corroded. Although there are measures you can take that can help prevent batteries and cables from corroding, many people fail to apply the products to their batteries or they don't stop all of the corrosion. If you notice corrosion on or around your battery, you should remove it as soon as possible.

Things You'll Need

• 3 cups baking soda
• Bucket
• Cloth
• Petroleum jelly

Instructions

1. Pop the hood of your vehicle and prop it open.

2. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery terminal, followed by the positive cable. The negative cable is typically black, and the positive cable is usually red.

3. Combine three cups of baking soda with one cup of room-temperature water in a small bucket. Mix until it has a paste-like consistency.

4. Moisten a cloth or rag with water. Wring to remove extra water, so the rag is damp. Dip the cloth in the cleaning mixture. Rub the mixture into corrosion on the battery, contacts and terminals.

5. Use a clean, damp cloth or rag to wipe off the paste residue. Repeat as needed until the corrosion is removed.

6. Reattach the positive cable to the battery terminal, followed by the negative cable.

7. Dip a clean rag in a small container of petroleum jelly. Rub the jelly on the areas that had battery corrosion to coat the areas and prevent corrosion from forming. Close the hood of the vehicle.

Tips & Warnings

• There is an old wives' tale that recommends using carbonated soda to clean and remove corrosion. Although the carbonation will help remove the corrosion, the sugar in the soda ultimately leads to further corrosion.

References

• Tip king: Clean Car Batteries and Neutralize Battery Acid Corrosion on Cars