Cleaning Your Own Car Battery

If you too are an average family person who also rides a not too expensive car, I'm sure you might have had an experience of jumpstarting your car. At that point, hooking up your bonnet might have made you notice a gooey gunk on top of your car's battery. That gooey gunk is actually known as "corrosion", a scientific term to explain the reaction of metal and your battery acid in this case. Since it is just an acid, an alkali ( a "detergent" for you who are unfamiliar with this) would just do the trick for cleaning your battery top.

For this process I would use baking soda to explain to you the simple procedure for cleaning up your battery. This, I repeat, is simple, but precaution is to be taken as your dealing with a corrosive acid. Follow the steps below and you would be on a safe cleaning experience.

You could start by getting this list of supplies.

- Safety glasses

- Adjustable pliers with insulated handles

- Screwdrivers with insulated handles

- An old toothbrush

- Assorted small open-end and box wrenches

- Small scraper (preferably plastic)

- Battery cables and pullers

- Terminal cleaning brushes

- A small funnel

- All-purpose household cleaner in a spray bottle

- Sponges or clean cloths

- A source of ample clean water such as a garden hose or a large

- Rubber gloves for protecting your hands

- And yes, a Box of baking soda and another chilled soda for me for sharing these tips! :P

Now, the process is simple but some points to consider before we start. You must at all times be wearing your safety gloves and goggles to prevent your eyes and skin from any kind of damage possible due to deposits of sulphuric acid on your battery. This could also cause your car's paint to peel off so keep away from that also.

The following steps starting from cleaning may or not be performed depending on the dirt. The best possibility would be to remove your car battery from its place to better cleaning.

Start by scraping off the corrosive green colored deposits on you battery and then start with any stiff bristled toothbrush. Prepare a concoction using a table spoon of baking soda for every pint of water. Then pour the mixture in minute quantities over and around the terminals of the battery using a small funnel. Brush up those rugged stains on the surface, and if possible remove the clamps to provide better cleaning. But use pliers and cable pullers to disconnect them. Disconnect the negative and then the positive terminal.

Brush all the parts of the holder, battery placer and clamps using the dipped brush. Flush them after you are done brushing with the baking soda mixture. Then clean the outside of the battery with liquid cleaning agent, including the holders. Use a sponge to wipe any remaining dirt. Spray lots of water on the cleaned parts to remove traces of baking soda and the detergent. Wipe the battery with a dry cloth and leave it to be dried.

After everything is done just re-install the battery and the terminals, starting with the positive first. Your battery now lies safe and clean!