Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (2024)

Cleaning

Cleaning How-Tos

By

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (1)

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Updated on 07/25/22

Reviewed by

Melissa Homer

Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (2)

Reviewed byMelissa Homer

Melissa Homer is a trained cleaning professional, consultant, and educator with a two-decade career spanning commercial and professional residential cleaning.

Learn more about The Spruce'sReview Board

Fact checked by

Sarah Scott

Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (3)

Fact checked bySarah Scott

Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Trending Videos

Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (4)

In This Article

  • How Often to Clean Battery Corrosion

  • Before You Begin

  • How to Clean Alkaline Battery Corrosion

  • How to Clean Nickel Cadmium Battery Corrosion

  • How to Clean Lithium Battery Corrosion

  • Tips to Prevent Battery Corrosion

Project Overview

  • Working Time:10 mins
  • Total Time:10 mins
  • Skill Level:Beginner

Little is more frustrating than grabbing a battery-powered tool, flashlight, or kid's toy and finding that it doesn't work except opening up the battery case to find a corroded mess. That corrosion must be cleaned away from the contact posts to give the item any chance of working again even with fresh batteries.

If the problem is caught early, with just a few items from your pantry, there is hope that you can clean away the corrosion and get things powered back up.

How Often to Clean Battery Corrosion

Battery corrosion should be cleaned as soon as you notice that the batteries are leaking in the battery case. We tend to use a battery operated item until the battery konks out, and it doesn't work anymore. You should periodically check the battery case and battery in these types of items to ensure there is no issue with leakage or corrosion.

Before You Begin

While this is a project that doesn't take long to complete, it is imperative that you protect your skin and eyes from any substances and wear gloves and eyewear protection. Prepare a surface with newspaper, disposable cloths, or paper towels to place the battery on after removing it from the battery compartment.

The 10 Best Gardening Gloves of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Warning

Chemicals such as sulfuric acid that are exposed during battery leakage are caustic and corrosive and can damage eyes and burn skin. Protective eyewear and gloves should be worn when handling leaking batteries or attempting to remove corrosion from battery compartments.

Do not attempt to clean leaking batteries. They should be removed from the device, placed in a plastic bag, and disposed of properly following waste guidelines in your community.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Old toothbrush or small bottle brush
  • Small bowl
  • Pencil eraser
  • Safety glasses
  • Nitrile or latex gloves
  • Paper towels
  • Newspaper or disposable cloths
  • Cotton swabs

Materials

  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Baking soda

Instructions

Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (5)

How to Clean Alkaline Battery Corrosion

Alkaline batteries—AAA, AA, C, D—are the most commonly used non-rechargeable batteries in toys, household gadgets, and flashlights.

Tip

Before removing the corroded batteries or attempting to clean the device, always put on safety glasses and gloves. Protect work surfaces with newspaper or disposable cloths and work in a well-ventilated space.

  1. Remove the Batteries

    Wearing gloves, remove the batteries from the device. Do not attempt to clean the batteries and dispose of all of the batteries and even those that don't look corroded. Since batteries can cause soil contamination, place them in a plastic bag and dispose of them following the waste guidelines in your community.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (6)

  2. Neutralize the Battery Corrosion

    Pour about one tablespoon of distilled white vinegar or fresh lemon juice in a small bowl. Dip a cotton swab or old toothbrush into the solution and saturate the corroded areas of the battery case.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (7)

  3. Scrub Away the Corrosion

    Depending on the level of corrosion, use a cotton swab or small brush to scrub away corrosion residue from the corners and contact points in the battery case.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (8)

  4. Dry the Battery Case

    Use a paper towel to thoroughly dry the battery case and contact points.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (9)

  5. Polish the Contact Points

    If any corrosion remains on the battery contact points of the device, mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of water, lemon juice or vinegar in a small bowl. Dip a cotton swab in the mixture and rub the contact points. Move to a new cotton tip as any rusty residue is transferred. When no more residue is transferred, carefully wipe the contact points with a clean cloth to remove any traces of the baking soda.

    The contact points can also be polished with a pencil eraser to remove traces of corrosion residue.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (10)

  6. Insert New Batteries

    Once you are certain that the battery case is completely dry, insert new batteries. Do not mix old and new batteries.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (11)

How to Clean Nickel Cadmium Battery Corrosion

Nickel Cadmium (NiCad or Ni-Cd) batteries like those from EBL are rechargeable. While less prone to leakage than alkaline batteries, they are more corrosive and the clean-up is handled differently.

  1. Remove and Dispose of Batteries

    Remove the batteries and dispose of them following waste guidelines in your community. Do not attempt to recharge batteries that have leaked.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (12)

  2. Clean the Battery Case and Contact Terminals

    Sprinkle the inside of the battery case with dry baking soda to neutralize the potassium hydroxide in the corrosion. Empty the powder into a trash can for disposal.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (13)

  3. Make a Baking Soda Paste

    To remove any remaining corrosion on the battery contact points of the device, mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of water, lemon juice or vinegar in a small bowl. Dip a cotton swab in the mixture and rub the contact points. When no more residue is transferred, carefully dry the contact points with a paper towel.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (14)

  4. Insert New Batteries

    Insert new batteries into the device and charge, if necessary.

    Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (15)

How to Clean Lithium Battery Corrosion

It is very unusual for lithium batteries used in cell phones and laptop computers to leak. But when it happens, it is very dangerous and highly combustible. Do not attempt to clean lithium battery corrosion. Consult a hazardous waste professional for the proper disposal of lithium batteries.

Tips to Prevent Battery Corrosion

  • Store batteries in a cool, dry place.
  • Do not attempt to use expired batteries, and do not mix old and new batteries in devices.
  • Remove batteries from devices that will not be used regularly.
  • For items you know you use rarely, take the battery out and tape it to the outside of the device with painter's tape. If a battery is not in the device, it is not being constantly strained, and it will be easy to pop it back in when need be.

Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (16)

8 Items in Your House You Should Always Repurpose

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Sulfuric Acid Poisoning Information. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

  2. Pervasive health threats of unregulated battery recycling. Stanford University.

  3. Used Household Batteries. United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Clean Away Battery Corrosion From Your Electronic Devices (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6123

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.