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How do you clean a car battery?

I was doing work under the hood of my car and noticed my car battery has some residue on it. I want to clean it myself since it should be pretty easy, but I don’t know what I need. How do you clean a car battery?

avatar
Payton Ternus · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re right—cleaning a car battery is fairly easy if you know where to look, like when you shop for
car insurance
.
Cleaning your battery can help keep it running stronger for a longer period of time by getting rid of harmful residue. Grab some gloves and follow these steps to clean your car battery at home and prevent corrosion:
  • Mix your cleaner: form a paste with equal parts water and baking soda
  • Disconnect the battery: remove the battery cables (negative then positive) and inspect the terminals for residue
  • Clean the terminals: use a toothbrush to scrub the battery terminals with the paste
  • Rinse: rinse the paste off with water and dry the terminals with a rag
  • Reconnect the battery: connect the battery cables (positive then negative)
Once you’ve cleaned your battery, download the
Jerry
app to see how much you can save on your car insurance. The average Jerry user saves $887 per year, and that’s not all—Jerry takes care of all the paperwork and can even help you cancel your existing policy!
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