Cleaning Battery Terminals

Several years ago we stopped to help a trucker that was broken down on the side of the road. No cell phones (see, I told you it was a long time ago) so he couldn't call his company. The battery was badly corroded. I don't go anywhere without a Coke. He said a Coke would fix the problem...I gave him one. He poured it all over the top of that battery, post and all. It boiled like crazy. After a few minutes to allow it to work, he got in and cranked the truck.

Taught me to never go without my Coke, lol.

Cat Lady

Ok, I am a little behind. I am planning on cleaning my house batteries which are pretty corroded. I bought a can of Battery Cleaner & Acid Detect to spray on. We are at an RV park with paved pads. Should I put anything underneath the battery area before cleaning these batteries?

jffhlbrt1 wrote:
I am planning on cleaning my house batteries which are pretty corroded. I bought a can of Battery Cleaner & Acid Detect to spray on. We are at an RV park with paved pads. Should I put anything underneath the battery area before cleaning these batteries?

No need as the neutralizer will do it's thing before any liquid hits the ground. You shouldn't need any more spray than to cover the terminals so don't use a whole can of the stuff. If you're trying to clean a battery box, also, then, yes, put a piece of cardboard under the box. If you want to control any over spray or runoff, put some rags around the battery. BTW, are you disconnecting the leads from the terminals? You may want to do that so you get any corrosion between the two that might effect continuity.

I use these types of sprays, occasionally, and they are effective. Also, very easy to use. The truth is, like Mex has stated, warm water and baking soda is a much more effective cleaner. If you have deposit build-up on the terminals or cable ends, I would use baking soda, initially, and the spray as a maintenance tool.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I am going to give this a try. I will keep you posted as to my results.

The spray on yellow color battery cleaner that stains red when it detects acid WILL STAIN any surface it touches maybe except only glass. The PHENOLPHTHALEIN used as a detector agent is notorious for staining. I would use paper towels to sop up extra glop before finally washing stuff down with a hose. I sort of prefer not to pay several dollars for nine cents worth of baking soda.

On really badly corroded connections that look like a blue-green lump, I'll clean off the corrosion enough to get the lug off the terminal, then immerse it in a container of baking soda mixed with boiling hot water.

Battery corrosion in the eye can badly damage it. Yes, the eye not the corrosion. Wear goggles. WOOL is acid proof. I had a wool full length apron but shirt and pants will work just fine. Sheep grease, anhydrous lanolin found at any USA pharmacy works better than high-priced gunk, LPS-3, and other corrosion sprays containing both wax and clay (like the G.M. and CRC spray products) also work great. NoCo became too proud of their spray for me, and the Deka spray is pitiful IMHO. AllBatterySales.com sells the best anti corrosion product if you care to go through the effort of ordering it on line.