How to Clean and Prevent Alkaline Battery Leakage

Learn how to safely clean off the white crusty stuff that shows up inside your battery-powered devices when a battery leaks. Also find out why this happens and how to help prevent it. Video was created for the Willimantic Repair Cafe by Judy Prill and Brian Taylor.

[@davidh.8513]

The very best way to prevent leaks is to NOT use Duracell Batteries period!

[@NCF8710]

Or ANY alkaline batteries, period! They are disposable batteries for disposable devices. I will never use alkaline batteries in any device worth more than the batteries themselves.

[@davidh.8513]

@@NCF8710 I have NEVER EVER had an Energizer battery leak even way past their expiration date.

[@chitung2277]

Some good new insights to this age old problem

[@douglas9607]

Thank you for the vid. I didn't know about using different voltage batteries and likelyhood of leaking. Subbed and liked.

[@judyprillvideo]

I appreciate the feedback!

[@kdcraft89]

Thank you for the explanation of why they corrode. I may try lithium in some devices going forward. I always just looked at the date and charge and assumed that would protect against leakage. Unfortunately, even batteries that were several years down the road (datewise) would leak. I never mixed them, learned that long ago. If they are still good, I may save them for devices that use a single battery, like a clock.

[@h8GW]

I honestly avoid the Energizers and especially Duracells now because either their quality has gone downhill or been the target for counterfeiters. I actually try to get Harbor Freight's Thunderbolt Edge line now, since they only have a single distribution channel, along with a less "premium" name, making them much less likely to be counterfeited. They also seem to be damn solid disposables and are very well-priced.

[@markrobinson891]

I use a head lamp (headband style) about once per month. It malfunctioned recently and one of three AAA batteries had corrosion. I’ve cleaned it off and leave the batteries out but it’s a nuisance to reinstall before each use. I’ll go to Lithium and hopefully be okay to leave them in. The light uses very little power as it is LED. Good video!

[@judyprillvideo]

Thanks for the feedback! You should be okay if install fresh batteries from the same package. In a year you may want to consider replacing them - or if you have battery tester, check to see if they are all still good (okay to do this if they were fresh batteries from the same package).

[@markrobinson891]

@@judyprillvideo that lamp continues to flicker. I bought one with rechargeable battery. $60 but it’s brilliant. This just in; I’ve taken old batteries to a specialty shop for recycling. They tossed my batteries in the trash. I’d have to drive fifty miles to a facility to take them. Booo!

[@judyprillvideo]

@@markrobinson891 glad you found a rechargeable one!

[@richardwernst]

If they leak because they're out of juice, why do mine leak even if NOT out of juice? I'm showing my age but remember when batteries were advertised specifically as leakproof.

[@NCF8710]

Unfortunately, that's an insidious property of alkaline batteries. Before you realize that they are getting weak, they have already started to leak and cause damage to the device.

[@kenandbarbie-b6c]

I have had very bad luck with mostly Duracell alkaline batteries that leak far before their labeled expiration date & the subsequent damage from the leaked corrosive electrolyte can sometimes be fatal to electronics. I have too many devices to find & maintain to do monthly checks- frankly I have better things to do. I have replaced those batteries with Energizer non rechargeable lithium batteries which is great, but the prices have dramatically risen in the last 3 years. I used to buy a package at Sam’s club for about $21.00, but that has since risen to about $35.00. Talk about inflation! I think people have resisted buying them at that price & in my last 2 visits at Sam’s, I noticed they have been removed probably from lack of sales from inflated prices. Too bad.

[@richardmerriam7044]

I inspect all batteries in all devices about once per month.

[@princecharmonpoirtoi]

thank you but that is intentionally designed to destroy your electronics to make you buy it again... I always felt stupid because the liquid is dialectic and stop the functionality of remote controls etcetera.