Q&A for How to Clean up Battery Acid Spills

It's better to use vinegar or lemon juice; you want a mild acid to neutralize the alkaline substance.

Is not a good idea, because the box can still contain some pollutant leaked by the battery. Any kind of vegetables you put in can absorb those pollutants.

You can either get some battery acid cleaner at an auto parts store or mix some baking soda and water to use to clean the acid. Wash away the residue with water.

It's acidic, so if it would be an alkaline spill, then sure, as coke has pH of (varying on the type) 2.5-3.8.

Computers use either LiPo or Li-ion batteries. Some older computers use Ni-MH (nickel metal-hydride). You should be able to identify the battery type by the label.

The soil needs to be scooped up and discarded. Be sure to wear protective gear and wrap it in multiple layers of plastic. Dispose of it as you would any toxic waste. Don’t put it in a compost heap or your garden!

It varies based on age, but ti can be yellow to brown (the older, the darker).

You may be seeing normal tarnish on copper, which is green or blue.

If you cleaned up the camera well, replaced the battery AND the camera works, then you should be fine. If you're really concerned & the camera is worth it, send it to the company that made it for a professional cleaning. Contact them first for instructions.

Dispose of the cloth if possible. If not, neutralize the acid (see part 2, steps 1-3) and shampoo the cloth.

Baking soda and water. Scrub with a toothbrush or something similar, and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

This would render your computer unusable, so I don't recommend pouring any baking soda into your vents.

Rinse the affected skin with warm water for at least 30 minutes. If that doesn't work, go to the hospital and have a professional clean it up. It is inadvisable to try to neutralize battery acid while it's on your skin because it could bubble up and affect more skin overall, making it worse than it was originally.

You shouldn't be using the kettle, because even if you did manage to clean it with some vinegar or baking soda or whatever, it might still leave a residue on the kettle and if consumed, may be harmful.

Put the fire out with a standard ABC or BC dry chemical fire extinguisher. Then follow the above steps.

For alkaline batteries, use vinegar, and wear gloves when you handle it. Also, alkaline batteries don't have acid, they have alkali (base).

Use a mild base, baking soda should be fine. The baking soda neutralizes the sulfuric acid.

Spray affected parts with baking soda solution. Dispose of the battery, and get a mechanic to check it if you want to be extra sure.

Spray all affected parts with baking soda solution, and get a mechanic to check it.