How To Clean Battery Terminals Without Baking Soda

Car battery terminals are responsible for connecting all electrical components of the car to the battery. However, over time, dirt, corrosion, etc. can accumulate on the battery terminal clamps, thereby degrading the battery performance.

Hence, it is important to regularly clean the battery terminals to ensure their smooth connectivity. A very common way of cleaning corrosion from the battery is using baking soda. However, if you want to know about some other methods of cleaning the battery terminals, then this article is for you.

There are four basic steps you need to follow to clean your car's battery terminals:

Disconnecting the battery terminals
Cleaning with WD-40, Cola, or a Battery Cleaner (as a replacement for Baking Soda)
Rinse and dry
Lubricate and reconnect

A Step-By-Step Guide for How To Clean Battery Terminals Without Baking Soda
- Step 1. Disconnect The Battery Terminals
- Step 2. Using The Battery Cleaning Product
  - #1 With Cola
  - #2 Battery Cleaner Spray
  - #3 With WD-40
- Step 3. Rinsing and Drying
- Step 4. Lubricating or Protecting The Terminals
- Step 5. Reconnecting the Battery Terminals And Turn It On
Things to Remember While Cleaning The Battery Terminals
Final Words

A Step-By-Step Guide for How To Clean Battery Terminals Without Baking Soda

Tools Required:

Cleaning product (WD-40, Cola)
Warm water (for rinsing the product off)
Toothbrush or No products found.
Rags/paper towels
Petroleum jelly Or No products found.
No products found.

Step 1. Disconnect The Battery Terminals

Put on your rubber gloves and then disconnect the battery terminals. Make sure you remove the negative clamp first and then the positive one. Now, inspect the battery to ensure that there are no cracks, damage signs, punctures, etc. If you do find some faults in the battery, then cleaning won't help you and you might need to get a battery replacement.

If there is no damage to the battery and everything looks fine with it, then ensure that it isn't touching any metal. Otherwise, there will be increased chances of short-circuiting since there will be water involved while cleaning. In case your battery does have some damage, you need to have it inspected by a mechanic.

Step 2. Using The Battery Cleaning Product

#1 With Cola

For this method, you'll need a pair of gloves and the right size wrench. Start with loosening the terminals slightly with the wrench and make sure you don't remove the cables entirely. Now, pour the cola on the battery following a center to the outward route.

Once done for one direction, do the same for the other direction. Let it sit and soak for around 2 minutes or so and then rinse off the area with water. Lastly, tighten the battery terminals and now you can restart your vehicle again.

#2 Battery Cleaner Spray

You can also spend a few bucks and clean your car battery terminals with a store-bought No products found.. Some such sprays include an acid detector included in the formulation. Such cleaning sprays can be very convenient to work with. The acid will dissolve the alkaline rust on the battery terminals (if any) and make the cleaning procedure faster. However, make sure that you read the instructions given on the spray bottle since each one of these is used differently.

#3 With WD-40

No products found.

Many people prefer using WD-40 when it comes to cleaning the car battery terminals. This works very well and is efficient at removing battery terminal corrosion but requires more effort on your part. Start with disconnecting the battery terminals. Then, spray WD-40 on your car terminals properly. You can also apply the same on the cable connections if you find them coated with grime. Let it sit for some time and then rinse off the WD-40 with hot water. You can also use this liquid to find vacuum leaks.

Now, you might need to scrub off the corrosion and grime with a toothbrush or wire brush even after rinsing it off. Moreover, you may also need to repeat the entire procedure a couple of times to clean it fully.

Step 3. Rinsing and Drying

If any residual grime is left, make sure you wash it away by rinsing it with plain and hot water. Once the region is clear of corrosion, grab a clean and dry towel or cloth to wipe the entire battery. If the corrosion hasn't cleared yet, you need to repeat the cleaning procedure.

Step 4. Lubricating or Protecting The Terminals

Before you reattach the terminal clamps, use a small amount of No products found. inside the terminals. This allows you to reconnect them properly and avoid future corrosion. You can do the application by using a clean rag.

You can also use certain products to prolong the lifespan of the battery terminals like a battery terminal protector. It doesn't have an expensive price tag but petroleum jelly is always cheap and easily available at home.

Step 5. Reconnecting the Battery Terminals And Turn It On

While reconnecting the battery terminals, make sure the region is dry. You need to reconnect the positive terminal first and then reconnect the negative terminal. Once done, put on the junction covers and turn the car on.

Things to Remember While Cleaning The Battery Terminals

If you need to remove the terminals of the battery to clean them, make sure you remove the negative one first.
Also, when the cleaning is done, the negative terminal should be the last one to be attacked.
The positive and negative terminals should not be touching each other.
Don't forget to wear protective gear while working with the car battery.
Make sure you remove all jewelry (if you are wearing any) before starting the cleaning procedure. Jewelry pieces like rings or bracelets can be grounded or get caught up in the engine parts while working with the battery terminals.
In case, your skin or eyes come in contact with acid or chemicals, immediately flush the area with lukewarm water and continue rinsing for 15 minutes at least.

Final Words

A little amount of battery corrosion is considered normal for your car because there will be some wear and tear over time. But, allowing it to build up for a long period can result in a thick grimy layer of corrosion on the terminals. This wouldn't allow your car to get connected to the battery properly.

Hence, it is very important to properly maintain and clean your car battery terminals. Also, don't forget to wear protective gear like glasses, gloves, and appropriate clothing while cleaning the car battery terminals.