CLEANING BATTERY CABLES

Were you dealing with a side terminal battery with bolted in ends or a top terminal battery with clamped on connectors? I can't say I'm familiar with using those felt washers on side terminal connections.

Using Kopr-Shield (Made by Thomas and Betts) on the metal parts of the cable ends, including the contacting surfaces, will retard corrosion quite well.

I still have an 8 ounce can of Kopr-Shield which I got maybe 30 years ago, and use it any time I'm making up an electrical connection in a car, including smearing it on the bases of lamp bulbs.

The way it was explained to me is that it's a grease with very fine copper powder mixed into it. When pressure is applied by its being clamped between two metal surfaces the grease squeezes out of the way and the copper powder "connects" the surfaces. But an unsqueezed "blob" of it won't create a short if it spans two conductors at different potentials. (I once proved that with my ohmmeter by measuring between the metal can the stuff came in and a piece of bare wire placed in the grease inside and found no significant resistance.)

The can is still about half full, and my gearhead son will probably inherit what's left in it when I end up "on the wrong side of the grass".

Kopr-Shield is described here:

Jeff

Another was to smear bearing grease (lightly coat) on the terminal. Spray white lithium grease is another approach.

I understand the felt pads need to be replaced periodically as they lose effectiveness.

IMO the soda and a water hose is fast and easy. Wet the battery good and sprinkle the soda on and let set a moment and rinse wash with the hose.