To begin with, a daily maintenance program that guarantees fast and reliable starts is very important for your car's battery. Before doing any form of battery maintenance, make sure you have the right tools such as: face shield, safety goggles, rubber gloves, battery post cleaner, treated felt washers, baking soda and petroleum jelly. Its handling requires one to follow some precautions these include; turning off the engine and all accessories as well as disconnecting the cable from its negative terminal. It is important to remember that a battery produces explosive hydrogen gas so do not allow any sparks or lighted matches near it Also , charge it in a well ventilated area . Besides this, take care of the poisonous and corrosive sulphuric acid which is present in the electrolyte by putting on protective safety glasses and keeping children away from the battery. Check for signs of external damage or loose connection on your battery and also inspect its condition using an indicator if it has one. If there is corrosion detected then remove the battery for cleaning purposes making sure that you loosen first the cable clamp bolts and then remove negative cable. Cable clamps should be cleaned using a warm water solution with baking soda applied using a brush on top but avoid letting solution in to the battery. Also check if there is need to clean carrier that holds the battery and metal brackets where necessary. Fit back the battery by using specially-treated felt washers after greasing its topside together with cables clamps using petroleum jelly or grease to prevent further corrosion. Ensure that nuts are tightened but not overtightened because this may crack up or puncture through a casing of your electric cell while tightening clamps of cables. Inspect if batteries tray hold-down clamp bolts are tightened properly. Preferably use one or two-amp trickle charger when charging batteries instead of high amperage chargers which strain them most effectively . Rapid boost charges save lives only during emergencies . The average time required to charge a battery is usually between 12 and 16 hours.