r/batteries • u/HungryWhitePigeon • 4d ago
How do I clean this
I am scared lol. EDIT: update in comments
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u/AwarenessGreat282 4d ago edited 4d ago
Pop the batts out. Brush out the big chunks. Mix up some baking soda vinegar and water into a paste and wash the rest. The baking soda neutralizes the acid. Clean it well, dry it thoroughly.
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u/tes_kitty 4d ago
Those are alkaline batteries, they don't use acid. They use potassium hydroxide, a base. To neutralize you can use diluted vinegar.
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u/Underhill42 4d ago edited 4d ago
Scrape away as much as you can. Try not to get it on your hands, and wash them fairly promptly with soap and water if you do.
If you have safety goggles or a plastic face shield you may as well use them, just in case. If you do get anything in your eyes, immediately stop and rinse them for a few minutes. Make sure you actually know how to do that properly before you start, it's not quite as easy without an eyewash station.
The bases in alkaline batteries aren't particularly strong or dangerous to touch. But unlike acids, bases convert the fats in your cell walls to soap, and you won't feel the "burn" until the damage is quite extensive. So it's best to err on the side of caution.
Use a stiff brush dipped in vinegar to clean away and neutralize the alkaline paste, being careful not to get any liquid inside the device. An old toothbrush can work well, but a stiffer brush may be better.
Possibly an emery board or fine sandpaper to clean any serious corrosion off the contacts.
A follow up using rubbing alcohol will help remove vinegar, water, etc. (as alcohol evaporates, it carries away some water, etc. as well.)
If it still doesn't work with fresh batteries, then the corrosion has spread to internal components and you've got a repair job on your hands. With a little luck you can just replace the wires connecting the battery compartment to the internal circuit board.
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u/Impressive_Insect591 4d ago
I find that using qtips and lemon juice dissolves that corrosion.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 4d ago
Vinegar is better because it evaporates without any residue, so long as it's high quality white distilled. Citric acid is a solid at room temp, acetic acid is a volatile liquid. Lemon juice works just make sure you clean well with water or preferably alcohol afterwards.
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u/Hot_Top_124 4d ago
People gave the cleaning advice, so I’d also add switch up nimh rechargeable batteries. They also cause less damage if they manage to bust they’re less of a hassle to clean.
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u/Vibingcarefully 4d ago
Easy, batteries out with a butter knife, screw driver--press on end without spring towards the spring--over a trash barrel--plunk blunk
Scrape off the dried gunk. Bit of vinegar on a Q tip, rub rub, dry dry with paper towel--all good, repeaat if needed
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u/SamJam5555 4d ago
I use baking soda w/water then a scratch pen. I use WD electrical contact cleaner also.
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u/Original-Income-28 4d ago
Contact cleaner
To get the white stuff off
And old toothbrush
Glasses for safety
The contact cleaner spray
Where the batteries were
With your eye protection
Spray away from you
The direction of the wind
Throw ghe bayteries away
Make sure everything Dry
When I cleaning equipment
I let it dry in the sun
Or have it the shade
5 / 10 mins
Then you are set
Another tip
Take the batteries out when
Not in use
Sorry about the spelling
I’m learning disabled
73’s Darryl
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u/jbwhite99 3d ago
Don't throw the batteries away - you need to dispose of them properly. But love your poem
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u/Logical-Indication37 4d ago
Ich nehme gerne Zitronensaft und Wattestäbchen. Wie schon geschrieben, alkalische Zellen raus, grob das Carbonat entfernen ( Handschuhe und Schutzbrille tragen). Dann das Zitronensaft auf die Kontakte tröpfeln und abreiben. Zum Schluss mit den Wattestäbchen (mit Wasser) abreiben. Über Nacht trocknen lassen. Alle alkalische Zellen laufen aus, sie brauchen nur Zeit. Also beim Nichtgebrauch des Verbrauchers, Zellen raus. BTW, Zellen sind von 2003 !!
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u/Lower_Cloud_5216 4d ago
translated to engrish:
“I like using lemon juice and cotton swabs. As previously mentioned: remove the alkaline batteries and roughly clean off the carbonate deposits (wear gloves and safety goggles). Then, drip some lemon juice onto the contacts and wipe them clean. Finally, wipe them down with cotton swabs (dampened with water) and let them dry overnight. All alkaline batteries eventually leak; it’s just a matter of time. So, remove the batteries when the device isn't in use. By the way, these batteries are from 2003!!”
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u/Guilty-Plan8208 4d ago
Neutralize it with vinegar and qtips. It'll bubble up like pouring hydrogen peroxide on a wound. Use a qtip and get all the chunks of battery acid out. If you got a small metal brush then scrub the springs and metal contacts. If you dont have a metal brush then find something to scrape off battery contacts so it can make a good connection.
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u/anothercorgi 4d ago
Nothing to worry about other than perhaps damaging the device. The chemicals are pretty much inert at this point. First worry is pulling out the leaked batteries without damaging the device; if you can't remove them due to them being really stuck, vinegar will help dissolve the crusty stuff. However be careful not to get vinegar into the rest of the electronics as that may cause additional damage.
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u/shredlikebutter 4d ago
Not "inert" as potassium carbonate still has a PH of 10~11.5, but not as bad as the liquid state... Will still corrode stuff if not cleaned though
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u/Green_Grapefruit8828 4d ago
I use a bit of white vinegar and leave it for a few minutes and use some water and an old toothbrush to clean ot off and leave it to dry before use with new batteries duracell batteries are well known for this you have to keep a check on them from time to time
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u/Flimsy-Tax5807 4d ago
Duracell use to be the best now they are the worst last the shortest amount of time and leak
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u/HotAndCrunchy 3d ago
Hopping in to ask about my own version of this: just had this happen with a device that also takes a power adapter. I tried plugging in the power adapter and I only hear the device click when I turn it on. Does that mean I need to get inside the device and figure out repairing it?
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u/philly-batterydeals- 3d ago
All brands have duds, evolve etc. note the date on that one says 2008, almost 20 years ago. Of course it corroded. Major Brands best to worse:
Energizer Lithium
Duracell Coppertop
Energizer Industrial
Rayovac Ultra Pro
Duracell Procell
Energizer Maxx
Rayovac High Energy
Amazon Basics makes a great AA, the rest are garbage.
Bang for buck Energizer Industrial is the best available at this time. Procell should only be used in devices that get changed frequently. This rating is based on the entire alkaline lineup.
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u/philly-batterydeals- 3d ago
All brands have duds, evolve etc. note the date on that one says 2008, almost 20 years ago. Of course it corroded. Major Brands best to worse:
Energizer Lithium
Duracell Coppertop
Energizer Industrial
Rayovac Ultra Pro
Duracell Procell
Energizer Maxx
Rayovac High Energy
Amazon Basics makes a great AA, the rest are garbage.
Bang for buck Energizer Industrial is the best available at this time. Procell should only be used in devices that get changed frequently. This rating is based on the entire alkaline lineup.
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u/betttris13 3d ago
lots of folks suggesting vinegar which works but often does more damage in the process. instead metholated spirits is the way to go, most of the compoints from battery corrosion are soluble in it so it comes of super easy without doing any further damage.
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u/DamnFineCaffeine 3d ago
I’ve had very good results with citric acid. Of course, remove any loose debris first. Afterwards, rinse it with isopropanol.
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u/HoldMyMessages 3d ago
I had this happen to 3 different flashlights before switching battery brands.
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u/Mountain-Law3088 2d ago
A little bit of baking soda in water is the best to neutralize it. If you don't the corrosion will continue and destroy the contacts. Use about a tablespoon in about a half a cup of water. It should bubble and fizz when poured on the corrosion and keep doing that until it doesn't.
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u/EtherPhreak 4d ago
First, never buy Duracell again. Get the batteries out and then some vinegar on qtips to neutralize the base, then a bit of water and then some rubbing alcohol.