Dealing with battery acid spills and old batteries can be hazardous. So the process of how to clean up battery acid spills must be undergone with protection and caution. If battery acid accidentally gets in contact with your skin and starts to burn, rinse the affected area using lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes.
The process would depend on your battery’s type. You can check the battery’s label to see what type it is. But basically, the process involves:
- Wearing protective gear.
- Containing the battery in thick plastic bags.
- Neutralizing the acid.
- Wiping or scrubbing off the acid.
- Disposing of the old battery.
Table of Contents
Cleaning Lead-Acid and NiCd Battery Acid Spills
Most vehicles make use of lead-acid batteries, while chargeable cars manufactured in the 90s make use of NiCd batteries. Moreover, lead-acid batteries have voltages in multiples of 2.4V, while NiCd batteries’ voltages are in multiples of 1.2V.
These batteries have the most potent and hazardous acid that can burn through fabric, carpets, and metal. So practice extra caution when cleaning them.
What You Need
- Rubber, Nitrile, or Latex Gloves – You can wear either type of gloves for protection.
- Safety Goggles and a Face Mask
- Garbage Bags – Two thick ones for containing the battery.
- Baking Soda – For neutralizing and cleaning the battery acid
- Water
Step 1: Practice Caution by Working With Protective Gear and in a Ventilated Area
Battery acid can be irritative to the skin and eyes when gotten contact with and harmful to the lungs when inhaled. So to safely clean battery acid, you must protect yourself by wearing rubber, nitrile, or latex gloves; safety goggles; and a face mask.
It’s also advisable to work in an area that’s well ventilated to allow the hazardous chemicals to air out.
Step 2: Put the Battery in Two Garbage Bags
You need to store the battery safely in two thick garbage bags. Once you put the battery inside, tie the bags up immediately.
Step 3: Neutralize the Lead-Acid or NiCD Battery Acid With Baking Soda
Pour some baking soda on the battery acid. Cover them entirely with the baking soda until there is no longer any fizzing.
Step 4: Clean the Battery Acid With Baking Soda and Water
Combine baking soda and water to make a paste mixture. Then scrub away the battery acid using a toothbrush dipped in the paste mixture.
If the battery is damaged, pour some baking soda that’s ample enough to neutralize the battery acid in the garbage bag. You should also put away the solution into the same garbage bag where you placed the battery.
Step 5: Properly Dispose of the Battery
Find out how to properly dispose of the battery according to your local area or states’ regulations on hazardous waste. Some would require recycling instead of disposing of it. And you can even get a discounted or free battery replacement in exchange for your old battery.
Cleaning Lithium Battery Acid Spills
Lithium batteries are used in some vehicles, particularly electric or hybrid vehicles. They are also in chargeable portable electronics. Their voltages are usually multiples of 3 to 3.7V.
- Rubber, Nitrile, or Latex Gloves
- Safety Goggles
- Face Mask
- Water
- Towel – You would need a towel for applying the water and cleaning.
Step 1: Wear Protective Gear and Work in a Ventilated Place for Safety
Step 2: Keep the Battery in Two Plastic Bags and a Container
Secure the battery in two thick plastic bags. If you are dealing with a car battery, use thick garbage bags. Immediately tie the plastic bags up once the battery is inside.
Moreover, lithium batteries tend to explode. So you must also secure it in a container after you put it in the plastic bags to contain an explosion in case it happens. If the battery was damaged, you must contact the battery manufacturer regarding proper handling.
Step 3: Neutralize and Clean the Lithium Battery Acid With Water
Take a towel and dampen it with water. Then use it to wipe the battery acid spills.
Step 4: Dispose of the Battery With Caution
Disposing of lithium batteries must be done with extra care. If their terminal ends contact with each other or if they’re damaged, they could spark and start a fire. Do not simply dispose of them in the trash bin.
What you can do is to send them to any battery recycler or retailers who take back old batteries. Or you may also contact the authority on solid waste or hazardous waste in your area.
Cleaning Alkaline Battery Acid Spills
Alkaline batteries are small batteries used in powering electrical devices. Their voltages usually are in multiples of 1.5V.
- Rubber, Nitrile, or Latex Gloves
- Safety Goggles
- Face Mask
- Vinegar – Vinegar is one of the ingredients in making a neutralizing and cleaning solution for alkaline battery acid spills.
- Lemon Juice – Lemon is to be combined with vinegar to create a neutralizing and cleaning solution.
- Cotton Swab – It would be used for applying the vinegar and lemon solution to the battery acid to neutralize it.
- Toothbrush – You can use a toothbrush along with the solution for cleaning.
- Paper Towel – A paper towel would be used for wiping.
Step 1: Keep Protected and Well-Ventilated
Before cleaning battery acid spills, put on some protective gear. And to prevent yourself from being exposed to too many harmful chemicals, do your battery acid spill clean up in a well-ventilated place.
Step 2: Secure the Battery in Two Plastic Bags
Keep the battery secure in two thick plastic bags. Tie up the bags immediately after placing the battery inside.
Step 3: Neutralize and Clean the Alkaline Battery Acid With Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Create a neutralizing and cleaning solution by combining vinegar and lemon juice. Then take a cotton swab, dip it into the solution, and apply the solution onto the battery acid to neutralize it. You may also dip a toothbrush into the solution and scrub the spills that have dried.
Do not apply water, as it can result in more corrosion. Instead, wipe away the acid with a paper towel. Then let the area dry for many hours.
Step 4: Discard the Battery Properly
The battery must be disposed of properly in accordance with your local area or state’s regulations. In some places, you may simply throw alkaline batteries in the trash bin, but in other places, batteries should not be disposed of but recycled instead.
There are reclamation companies wherein you may send alkaline batteries for recycling or check with the solid waste authority in your area.
Conclusion
Whether it’s a car battery or a smaller battery for electronic devices you’re dealing with, you need to clean with caution and also remember to dispose of it carefully. Also, you can read more other relevant tips & tricks about taking care of your carpet, such as how to clean a flooded car carpet, and in case, the machine is not available, click this guide to learn more.
Hopefully, this tutorial on how to clean up battery acid spills was helpful for you and that you enjoyed it. We appreciate it if you share your thoughts in the comments and share this article.
