Have you ever gone to use a mouse, camera or remote control that's been sitting around for a while, only to find the batteries and their compartment covered in a white-ish crusty residue? That crust is caused by battery corrosion. When left in a device for a long time, batteries will continue to slowly discharge, and a build-up of gas will leak out in the form of battery acid.

But that corrosion doesn't have to be the end of your electronics. With a few household items, you should be able to clean the corrosion out and get those forgotten electronics working again.

How to clean battery acid with vinegar

• First, you should wear a pair of gloves since the acid can be caustic.

• Next, remove the batteries.

• With a cotton swab gently wipe away any corrosion debris in the device, taking care not to get any on your skin or in your eyes.

• Then, dip a cotton swab in a little bit of white vinegar or lemon juice and clean the device's components with the wet swab. You may hear a slight sizzling noise, which is a sign it's working.

• Now take a dry cotton swab to remove any moisture.

• Leave the battery compartment of the device open to completely dry before putting in new batteries.

Preventing battery corrosion

The simplest and easiest way to prevent corrosion is to take batteries out of devices that you may not use for a while. Heat and moisture affect how quickly the batteries corrode, so store devices in a dry, cool place. Also, avoid using expired batteries.

Does corrosion damage electronics?

While your electronics can still be used after cleaning away corrosion in many cases, it can still damage your electronics to the point that they can't be used anymore.

More problems, solved

• Laundry hack: Here's how to dry your clothes quicker

• Do-it-yourself dryer balls: How to make cheap, but effective, dryer balls

• Clogged dryer vent: Keep it clean to keep your family safe from house fire

• Refrigerator relief: The best way to clean the inside of your fridge

• Zipper stuck?: Here's how to easily fix it

• Hard-to-clean coffee maker: Best way to clean the inside of your coffee maker

• The perfect fruit: How to pick the perfect watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew

• Make groceries last: How to make your groceries last at home

• Suede shoes: How to clean suede shoes them without ruining them

• Clean toys: How to clean and disinfect them

• Video game controllers: The best way to clean controllers, consoles

• Airpods & earbuds: Most effective cleaning method for your headphones

• Dust mites: Keep dust mites away naturally to help with allergies

• Gross oven? How to deep clean it using nontoxic items

• Your A/C needs cleaning: Your air conditioner is probably filthy. Here's the best way to clean it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to clean battery corrosion in your electronic devices