Battery Terminal Cleaner
A wire brush tool designed to clean corrosion and oxide deposits from battery terminals and cable clamps.
A battery terminal cleaner is a simple, inexpensive hand tool featuring stiff metal wire bristles housed inside a plastic casing. One end of the tool features a female conical brush designed to fit over and clean the lead battery posts. The other end features a male cylindrical brush designed to clean the inside of the battery cable clamps.
Over time, battery terminals can develop a crusty white or blue-green build-up of lead sulfate and copper sulfate corrosion. This corrosion is highly resistive and acts as an insulator, blocking the flow of electrical current. Symptoms of dirty terminals include dim lights, slow cranking, or a click-no-start condition, even if the battery is fully charged.
Before using the cleaner, technicians often apply a terminal cleaning spray or a baking soda and water mixture to neutralize the acidic corrosion. Gently twisting the wire brushes cleans the mating metal surfaces to a bright, shiny finish, ensuring a low-resistance electrical connection. Applying a thin coat of dielectric grease or terminal protector spray after reassembly prevents future corrosion.