How to Clean a Car Battery

Vehicles are very expensive possessions and require fairly regular care and maintenance in order to keep them in peak working condition, after all nothing is more annoying than breaking down at the side of road over a problem you could have prevented. We all are very good at staying on top of changing our oils, and filling up our cars fluids but we often neglect to clean our car batteries. The car battery is a very important piece of your car and without proper cleaning you can drastically reduce the lifespan of your car battery. Normally a car battery has a lifespan of four to five years but without semiannual cleaning your car battery could fail in as little as two years.

Cleaning a Car Battery can be tricky work but by spending the 10 to 15 minutes required to clean your battery you can ensure that your car battery will last longer, perform better, and be less likely to suffer from a reduction in power. In order to properly change your car battery you will need the following materials; Baking soda, a firm brush, gloves, wrench, waterproof grease, and safety goggles. Do not attempt to clean your car battery without wearing gloves and safety glasses as you could be severely burned.

Loosening the Cables

The first step you will need to complete is removing the cable clamps and the battery holder in order to get the battery out of the vehicle. Using your wrench you will need to gently remove the batter holder and then gently slide the battery from the vehicle. Carefully place the battery on a flat surface in order to ensure it doesn’t tip over.

Cleaning the Battery

Before you begin to clean the battery you should spend five to 10 minutes cleaning the battery holder using baking soda and water to remove the grime and dirt that is clinging to it. Next you are going to want to use your brush to firmly remove all the grime and other soiled material from the cable clamps until the look shiny and new. Once you have completed these steps then it is time to reinstall your battery back into the car. When you are reinstalling the battery make sure that you attach all of the cables properly and that the battery is seated firmly in the battery holder.