Mold, mildew and damage family: remove growth, accept damage
How to get battery acid out
Sulphuric acid from batteries. It eats fibres; holes can appear after washing.
Do this first
Rinse with lots of cold water immediately
Fresh stain
- Rinse with lots of cold water immediately
- Sprinkle or sponge with baking soda solution to neutralise
- Rinse again
- Wash
Dried or old
- Damage is usually permanent
- Fabric care
- Rinse skin with water too. Gloves when handling batteries.
- Time
- Immediately
- How to tell
- Look: discoloured spots, later holes; Feel: weak fabric; Smell: sharp
Where this fix comes from
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.