It’s not hard to know when it’s time to clean up the exterior and interior of your car, but what about the parts under the hood?

It turns out that most car Batteries corrode at least a little over time. This could result not only on various electrical problems for the vehicle, but Ultimately shorten the life of the battery, which means you will have to pay for a replacement. To prevent that, here’s how to remove built-up corrosion on your car’s battery terminals.

What is car battery corrosion?

When checking your car battery for corrosion, look for a granular white, blue, or greenish powder that has formed around the terminals, posts, and/or wires.

as long as there is some specific problems which can speed up the corrosion process, is a normal part of your vehicle’s wear and tear. This is what is happening by Continental Batteries:

As the battery works, sulfuric acid releases hydrogen gas. The gas then mixes with the surrounding air. The chemical reaction that takes place when gaseous hydrogen collides with air, moisture and salt causing corrosion.

Why is it important to clean your car battery terminals?

Your vehicle needs a working battery to run, and batteries can be expensive, so it’s in your best interest prolong the life of your battery. Corrosion around the terminals or elsewhere on the battery causes it materials to deteriorate, which shortens its useful life. It can also disrupt electrical power to the car and may end up damaging the electrical and starting systems.

How to remove corrosion on your car’s battery terminals

There are dedicated battery cleaning solutions available at your local auto parts store, but this DIY method will also work:

1. To put on protective gloves and glasses before starting.
2. delete the connection cablesstarting with the negative (black) cablefollowed by the positive (red) wire.
3. Check cables for damage such as frays or broken insulation. dry, peeling or cracked. If the cables are damaged, must be replaced.
4. Optional: Remove the battery from the vehicle and place it in a shallow tray or container. This will not only make cleaning easier, but it will also prevent corrosive material from reaching other parts under the hood. (Some people prefer to clean the battery while it’s still in the car.)
5. Use a stiff toothbrush, wire brush, or scraper, if necessary, to remove as much solid and powdery corrosion as possible, brushing it into the bowl as you go.
6. mix a paste of baking soda and warm water to neutralize battery acid. Apply to the battery, and to the ends of the terminals that connect it to the cables, with a clean rag, wiping away any corrosion as you go. If the rag won’t cut it, use the toothbrush.
7. When the corrosion is gone, dampen a new, clean cloth in warm water and wipe the battery and its terminals to rinse.
8. Use a clean cloth (ideally microfiber) to dry the area, wiping away any remaining residue.
9. Put the clean battery back inside your vehicle (if you removed it).
10. spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly on clean battery terminals to help prevent future corrosion.
11. Reconnect the wires, this time starting with the positive (red) wire, then the negative (black) wire. Replace the caps on each terminal.

Once the battery is free of corrosion, set a reminder on your calendar to check it again in six months and clean it, if necessary. From there, keep looking for and cleaning the corrosion on the battery. every six months.