While undertaking routine preventive maintenance on your vehicle's battery, ensure that safety comes first. To begin with, turn off the engine and accessories, then disconnect the cable from the battery's negative terminal. Due to flammable hydrogen gas, avoid sparks, smoking or matches near the battery. Charge in a well-ventilated area. Its electrolyte is made of corrosive sulfuric acid; therefore prevent contact with eyes, skin or clothing. Wear safety glasses and keep children away. Check for damage, corrosion, cracks and loose connections. Clean using warm water and baking soda without allowing solution entry. Wearing gloves and goggles use a battery brush or terminal cleaner. Rinse it using plain water only. Make sure that the battery tray is in good shape while avoiding overtightening hold-down clamp bolts. First rinse before removing corrosion with water and baking soda solution. Cover damaged metal parts using zinc-based primer and paint them later on with coats of enamel paint. Slow-rate charging requires charger capacity of one or two amps only.