Cleaning Car Battery Terminals with Everyday Household Items
Are you meticulous about keeping your car clean on the outside? Don’t forget about the vital components under the hood, like your car’s battery. By cleaning your battery terminals, you can help ensure your car battery performs at its best. In just five simple steps, we’ll guide you on how to clean your battery terminals using common household items you probably already have.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Protective gloves (e.g., dish gloves)
- Baking soda
- Water
- Old toothbrush
- Rag
- Petroleum jelly
Step 1: Create Your Homemade Battery Cleaner
Start by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda into one cup of water, ensuring thorough mixing until it forms a solution.
Step 2: Disconnect and Inspect the Battery
Turn off your engine, pop open the hood, and begin by removing the negative battery cable first, followed by the positive cable. Carefully inspect your battery.
Step 3: Scrub the Terminals
Take an old toothbrush, dip it into your baking soda cleaner, and start scrubbing the battery terminals. You may need to exert some elbow grease, so be sure to clean the toothbrush periodically as you work. Thoroughly clean the terminals until all the buildup is removed. Remember not to return the toothbrush to your bathroom afterward!
Step 4: Rinse and Dry
After successfully removing corrosion and dirt from the terminals, rinse the battery with water. You can use a spray bottle filled with water to spray down the terminals. If you don’t have a spray bottle, a damp rag will work just as well. Then, use a separate rag to completely dry the terminals.
Step 5: Apply Petroleum Jelly and Reattach Cables
Once the terminals are dry, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to them. This will lubricate the terminals, prevent further corrosion, and enhance the connection. Reattach the positive and negative cables carefully, and you’re all set! Just remember, too much petroleum jelly can lead to a poor connection, so use it sparingly.
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