How to Refurbish Auto Batteries

Auto battery sales in the United States are in the billions of dollars each year. To cut back on environmental waste from the disposal of auto batteries -- and to save a few dollars -- you can refurbish old batteries.

• 1

  Disconnect the battery from your car by loosening the retainer bolts with a wrench or socket set, removing the negative (black) cable first and ensuring it does not come into contact with the battery posts or other metal. Remove any battery retainer bracket, J-hook or other device, using a wrench to remove the nuts or screws. Set the battery on a work surface. Remove the caps along the top of the battery that are covering each cell by prying them up with the end of a screwdriver.

• 2

  Remove any liquid from inside each of the cells using a turkey baster. Dispose of the liquid down a drain by squeezing it out of the baster.

• 3

  Heat 1 qt. of water until it is almost boiling and dissolve 10 tbsp. of Epsom salt into it. It's OK if the water boils, but it isn't necessary.

• 4

  Stick the end of a funnel into one of the cells and pour in the Epsom water. Do this to each of the cells until all of them are full of the solution.

• 5

  Agitate the battery to make sure the fluid inside the cells touches the insides of the cells: Put the caps back on to keep the fluid inside and just gently shake the battery to the left and right. It's heavy, but a simple rocking will do.

• 6

  Connect the battery to a slow battery charger by clamping onto the terminals of the battery with the charger clamps. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, disconnect the charger.

• 7

  Hook the battery up to a draining appliance like a light or something similar by connecting the power lines of the appliance to the battery terminals. Let the battery drain its charge and reconnect the charger.

• 8

  Drain the battery of the Epsom fluid and refill the cells with battery acid from the turkey baster. Recharge it completely, overnight if needed, to complete the charge cycle.