Batteries ruptured, now what?

[Camp__Forrest__]

I loaded the camper on the truck today and while attaching my tie downs, I noticed a white film on the underside of the wings. A chill came over me as I recalled a post I read on the forums last week about dead batteries rupturing, while the image of my fantastic vent left in the 'on' position all winter flashed in my head. Sure enough, my batteries had ruptured.

I pulled them out and made a thick mixture of baking soda and water. I basted the battery box and the underside of the wings with the mixture and thoroughly rinsed the area. Is there anything else I need to do?

On a related note, how do I dispose of these batteries? I have heavy, leaky, corrosive items that I really don't want spilled all over my vehicle. Will a Rubbermaid container work?

[wa8yxm]

I would use a 3 step sequence

you already did one

now make a more "liquid" mixture and fill up a garden sprayer with it.

Spray everything in site.

now take ye-old garden hose and hose it down yet again with just water.

Douse well, do not be stingy with the rinse water.

Let dry, replace batteries,, DO NOT FORGET which wire goes where (paint/take pictures).

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Opinion...

Do those compartments again with sodium bicarbonate, only this time with boiling water.

[WyoTraveler]

Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:
Costco will take them. My question is more about how to transport them.

I would a couple of heavy plastic garbage bags in the bottom of a box.

[Camp__Forrest__]

All done. I put them in a rubbermaid tub and too them to Costco. They have leak proof bags for leaky batts. Thanks.

[retired-tech]

line the bottom of the tub with cardboard as it will soak up the acid and help nutralize it. that is what they have to do at the recycling places.

[n7bsn]

Baking Soda is your friend... kill all that acid. But also our local recycle yard takes "leaky" ones, after you have cleaned up the acid.

[camperpaul]

Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:

On a related note, how do I dispose of these batteries? I have heavy, leaky, corrosive items that I really don't want spilled all over my vehicle. Will a Rubbermaid container work?

Yup.

You can store them in the Rubbermaid® containers until disposal.

Call your local Fire Dept for further instructions.

[Wind_River]

Rubbermaid tub will be fine for transporting them.

[Camp__Forrest__]

Costco will take them. My question is more about how to transport them.

[renoman69]

I put mine beside my neighbor's garbage the night before garbage day... late at night.

[sch911]

We take ours to a metal yard that recycles the lead. They buy them back as scrap. And most places that sell batteries will take them back also.

[WyoTraveler]

To get rid of them legally I would first call Walmart. They may or may not take leaky batteries. If not you should probably call local fire dept & talk to their hazmat people.