I know I should've used the search, but I can't so there

A few days ago, noticed there's a light green residue on one of the battery terminals (think it was the negative terminal).

I wanna clean it off, but I need to know, is it corrosive to skin? Should I just wipe it off with a cloth and water.
Why did this happen, never happened before?

 

I'm not sure what it is, but you could try going to an auto parts store and getting a batery terminal brush. Basically it looks like a large capo with thick metal bristles inside. You twist it around the battery. it only goes one way, when you are done- the terminal is Cleaned of all the crap. My father has one of these and its pretty cool.

 

this is going to sound like a joke, but i swear to got it works - and other backyard mechanics will back me up on this...

pour some coca cola (has to be coca cola - not generic cola) on the terminals, then rinse it off with water, and wipe the terminals off. the coke eats right through the corrosion

 

Woah! The coke just went right through the green residue. It became all powdery like laundry detergent. Does this happen because of moisture you think?

And people say drinking coke isn't bad for you

 

I know there's something you can buy to stop the corrosion from reforming but I can't remember... anyone else have any ideas on this?

Nirav

 

Water would have worked fine. That stuff just washed right off.
It is probably somewhat corrosive to the skin, but I don't think touching it a couple of times will really hurt you.
Good to hear you got it off of there.