Safety First

• Always wear some form of eye protection whenever servicing a 12 volt battery. Gloves are also a good idea. The gloves should be made of leather and readily disposable. Open top batteries may leak a little fluid and the acid can ruin any type of gloves or clothing. Wash any spills with plenty of water; water will dilute the acid. Never service a battery while it is still connected to any source or wires, even if the car is shut off. Disconnect all wires prior to maintenance. Do not wear any metal jewelry that can come in contact with the terminals of the battery. When removing the wires from a battery, always remove the hot or positive wire first.
  
  

Clean the Terminals

• After removing the wires or cables from the battery, clean the posts with a solution of baking soda and water. Use 1 to 2 tbsp. of soda to 1 pint of water. Apply the solution to the posts with an old toothbrush. The soda will boil and bubble. This shows that it is working away at the corrosion. Shine the terminals with a steel wire brush or a terminal cleaning tool. You will want to clean all mating connections. The cleaner the connectors, the better the conductor for power. Tighten all bolts so that the connectors are not loose. Loose terminals will create resistance, resistance creates power lost. Replace any old or worn battery cable connectors with new ones. Replace any cables that are green in color and the exposed wires that are brittle or breaking. Coat the final connection in a silicone-based sealer made for battery terminals. This application will keep corrosion at bay.
  
  

Keep the Battery Charged

• Batteries that are used for anything other than automobiles, such as solar powered systems or lawnmower batteries, should be kept fully charged. Over time, batteries may drain down. They should be kept in a "topped off" level of power. Keep batteries well-ventilated and do not allow them to overheat. When charging batteries, make sure that they are placed in a well-ventilated area. The gases put off by charging batteries can be harmful. Heat is the number one killer of batteries next to full discharge in cold weather. Battery packs for solar applications should be kept in a cool environment. Car batteries should be serviced as stated above. Dispose of any leaking batteries immediately. Contact the local recycling center or hazard materials center for instructions.