How to clean dried battery acid?

mercyangel

mercyangel

Proud Memaw
This really isn't an automotive question, but I thought maybe y'all could help me with it. The DVD player in our car has 2 sets of cordless headphones so the kids can watch a movie and we don't have to listen to it. Evidently, some time ago, one or more of the 3 AAA batteries in one of the sets of headphones leaked and it has now dried into a kind of white-ish powdery like substance. I know this should be removed before replacing the batteries, but how??? Is there a special solvent to use to clean it up, or what? Any advice will be greatly appreciated as a new set of these headphones is VERY expensive.

Thanks y'all!
Beth
 
Green Co.

Green Co.

Administrator
_______________
Beth, I have used WD40 to clean acid residue from the battery compartments of old radios. That, & an old, stiff, water color paint brush.

If the corrossion didn't get past the battery terminals, your headphones should be OK.

Hopefully, someone more versed in electronics will chime in.

Dennis2
 
Brutus

Brutus

Membership Revoked
I've used Coke - the drinking kind, not the snorting kind - to clean battery terminals on a car/truck battery. Pour on some Coke, let sit a few minutes, and it'll wipe right off with paper towels or a shop rag.
 
I

intothatgoodnight

. . .
If leakage is from alkaline batteries, then use a Q-Tip and some vineager -- alkaline battery leakage is a base chemical, and needs a mild acid (vineager) to conteract.

If the battery leakage is from a car (under the hood) lead acid type battery, then clean "white fungus looking stuff" from top of battery, battery tray and main terminal posts with a mild alkali, such as a mix of water and Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, brushed on GINGERLY with a soft toothbrush -- CAREFUL, do not allow tooth brush to splatter your clothing or surrounding radiator hoses, electrical cables or car paint finish -- once the area has been scrubbed with baking soda, use a hose or a source of fresh water to rinse the resulting mess away -- the runoff will not be dangerous, per se, because the baking soda has rendered the battery acid leakage/fungus mostly neutral -- lead acid battery leakage is ACIDIC in nature, and needs a BASE (alkali) chemical (baking soda) to counteract/neutralize the effects of the acidity.


intothegoodnight
 
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