How to Clean Battery Corrosion in 4 Steps

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Don’t let a leaky battery ruin your electronic device. Instead, follow these steps to clean up the mess safely and effectively.

Batteries—particularly the alkaline kind—can leak over time, and when they leak inside an electronic device, they can damage the battery contacts and circuitry. The good news is that most batteries that are packaged, stored, and used properly don’t leak. According to Osarumen Igbinijesu, senior quality assurance engineer at national retailer Batteries Plus, “For leakage to occur, it is typically the result of either damage or defect.” And when a battery does leak, you can usually clean battery corrosion yourself and get your device working again.

What is battery corrosion?

When your remote or a flashlight suddenly stops working and you open it up to see what’s wrong, you may notice a flaky, white substance encrusting the battery terminals and the contacts in the battery compartment. This corrosion is caused by a leaky battery.

Through damage to the battery, manufacturing defects, or excessive heat, or even when a battery sits unused for long periods of time, pressure from gas produced inside the battery can build up and break through insulating seals. This allows the battery’s electrolyte, an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, to seep through the seals. When potassium hydroxide reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air, it forms potassium carbonate, which is that familiar white crystalline substance.

Is battery corrosion dangerous?

Potassium hydroxide is a caustic chemical that can irritate eyes and skin, so when you’re cleaning up battery corrosion, protect work surfaces and wear gloves. Glasses are a good idea, too, just in case you accidentally flick anything toward your eyes. There’s no need to go crazy: Basic precautions are sufficient. That said, avoid ingesting any of the leaked chemicals, and remember that a swallowed battery of any type always requires an immediate trip to the ER.

Types of Batteries

Household batteries fall into two categories: primary (or single-use) batteries and rechargeable batteries. There are several types of batteries within each category. Of the many kinds of batteries, alkaline are the most likely to corrode.

Primary Batteries

Alkaline: One of the most common and widely available household batteries; moderately priced; prone to leaking.
Lithium: Long life and long shelf life; more expensive than alkaline; not prone to leaking.
Zinc carbon: Inexpensive; generally used for low-power devices like clocks and remotes; tend to leak.
Silver oxide: Expensive; button cell; used for watches, calculators, hearing aids, and other small devices; not prone to leaking.
Zinc air: Button cell; primarily used in hearing aids; can leak if exposed to high temperatures or humidity.

Rechargeable Batteries

Lithium ion: Popular; used in laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other devices; not prone to leaking.
Nickel cadmium (NiCd): Used in toys, digital cameras, and flashlights; may leak if overheated, overcharged, or damaged.
Nickel metal hydride (NiMH): Wide application, including cellphones and laptops; long lived; not prone to leakage unless overcharged or damaged.