If you feel like an automotive DIY project this weekend and your car’s battery terminals are corroded, why not clean them? Kurth’s Auto Repair is going to list some instructions below for how to clean your car battery terminals but bear in mind this is a bandage solution to a gaping wound. If your battery terminals are corroded, this is a sign that there is a problem with your car battery.
Get Your Supplies
Most of the supplies that you need to clean your car battery terminals are likely already in your home. Specifically, you will need
- Baking soda
- Distilled water
- A mixing container
- An old toothbrush
- A lint-free cloth
- A spray bottle
- Petroleum jelly
- Rubber gloves
Gather all of the supplies and get ready to mix the cleaning solution. You will be using a homemade cleaning solution to remove the gunk from your battery terminals. The solution can also be used to clean the cable connectors if they are corroded, as well.
Mix it Up
Put on the rubber gloves. Put 1 tablespoon of baking soda in the mixing container and mix it with 1 cup of distilled water. Stir the cleaning solution with your old toothbrush until it is clear. Once it’s clear, it’s ready to use.
Disconnect the Cables
When disconnecting the battery cables, think negative/positive. It is crucial that you remove the battery cable from the negative terminal first. Then, you’re ready to remove the positive cable.
Clean the Terminals
Once the cables are removed, it’s time to put a little elbow grease into this DIY project. Get the head of the old toothbrush soaked with the cleaning solution and scrub away the corrosion on both battery terminals. This may take a few tries before the terminals are sparkly clean.
If you’re going to clean the cable connectors, do those next, being careful not to get the wiring wet.
Rinse the Terminals
Fill the spray bottle with distilled water and spray away all of the corrosion and cleaning solution off the battery terminals. Carefully spray the corrosion and cleaning solution off the cable connectors, as well. Use your lint-free cloth to dry both and then let them air dry for at least 30 minutes.
Protect the Terminals
Once dry, spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly on each battery terminal. Now, you’re going to think positive/negative. Reconnect the positive cable first. Once you’ve done this you can reconnect the negative cable.
Finally, call Kurth’s Auto Repair in New Hope, MN, to schedule a battery test. Again, if your battery is corroded, chances are it is going bad.
