What will dissolve alkaline battery crusties?

[Marc_G]

So, I had some corrosion in a device due to alkaline battery leaks:


(Should be thumbnail, click for higher res)

I can take a pick and scrape out much of the crystals, but how to dissolve the remaining residue before buffing?

 

[neil_w]

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-battery-corrosion/
I think I tried this (vinegar) once before and it worked very well.

 

[mh9162013]

Rubbing alcohol works for me to clean those types of messes.

 

[Steve Shannon]

So, I had some corrosion in a device due to alkaline battery leaks:

View attachment 537383
(Should be thumbnail, click for higher res)

I can take a pick and scrape out much of the crystals, but how to dissolve the remaining residue before buffing?

Water on a Q tip. Just damp; you don’t want an alkaline solution running into the device.

 

[SolarYellow]

White vinegar, then chase with clear water.

 

[Huxter]

A little Baking soda w water - use old toothbrush to scrub

 

[Pappy]

coca-cola is the arch nemesis of car battery corrosion. would it work on household batteries?

 

[Kallahan11]

This stuff is made specifically for this task. https://smile.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6...AnSA==&sprefix=contact+cleaner,aps,100&sr=8-7

 

[neil_w]

Why buy special stuff when vinegar works perfectly?

 

[heada]

Any acid will react with the alkaline residue. Distilled white vinegar is probably the cheapest and easiest to get. Once they neutralize each other, rinse with distilled water. Using q-tips to react them and then clean afterwards is what I've done before.

Coke has phosphoric acid as well as carbonic acid (any carbonated drink has carbonic acid by nature of carbonation). That's why it cleans battery terminals so well.

 

[cbrarick]

love me some diet coke. A little for the battery, the rest for me.....
can't do that with vinager

 

[LithosphereRocketry]

love me some diet coke. A little for the battery, the rest for me.....
can't do that with vinager

So people don't usually drink vinegar? That explains the weird look the McDonalds cashier gave me the other day...

 

[mjennings]

Yup just cleaned a bunch myself with vinegar
https://www.energizer.com/about-batteries/what-is-battery-acid