clean batteries

[bandmbrown]

my starting and house batteries are in a compartment off the engine compartment on the diesel pusher. they get all sort of engine soot and road grime on them. i mean really dirty.
can i use a hose and wash off the batteries or will flooding the batteries with water cause a "shorting" problem

[RV Wizard]

Washing the batteries off with a hose should be no problem provided that all the cells a capped. The water should not be able to get into the cells and over fill them.

[bandmbrown]

thanks wizard. i was really concerned with the water providing a circuit conduit between the poles.

[H. Miller]

Not for 12 volts (or 6)

[Norm4015]

For soot and road grime spray the batteries with Simple Green and let it set a few minutes then hose it off. Repeat if necessary. For battery acid spray the batteries and cables with a mixture of baking soda and water and let it set until the bubbling stops then hose it off. Make sure the battery caps are on so nothing gets inside the batteries. You won't short anything out or cause any damage by hosing down the batteries.

[Techie]

I agree with others that washing is fine and that baking soda mix shoudl be used if there is acid.

When ours get grimy (no acid as they are AGM's) I just wipe them down with a microfiber towel. Do the same on the inverter.

[EngineerMike]

When you are driving in the rain, the batteries are getting sprayed w/all the water coming off tires, the road, dripping off the frame, etc. Might be where the majority of dirt came from also. Just continue the process w/clean water, and maybe small amount of soap or soda solution as suggested above.