Leaky battery - help!

[Tempstar]

I changed a leaky alkaline battery in a remote, and then afterwards I built a new computer. The battery was crusty and white but not visibly wet. Afterwards, I read that the chemical inside alkaline batteries is potassium hydroxide, which is toxic and corrosive!

It looked a lot like this photo on Wikipedia:
File:Battery acid.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I touched my mobo, CPU, vid card, power supply, case, mouse, keyboard, monitor--i.e. everything--after handling the leaky battery. Have I seriously messed up my machine? If it is booting into Windows am I OK?

I know I should have washed my hands after handling the battery. I'm really freaked out.

[martin_metal_88]

your flesh will burn way before your component. If you didn't lose a finger, youre component are probably fine.

[dma0991]

I presume that while you're building your rig you won't have fingers soaked with that chemical, more towards a sticky feeling to your fingers rather than wet.

I don't think that it will cause a major problem at all. Cleaning is unnecessary but if you would like to be 100% sure you could get a bottle of isopropyl alcohol and clean whichever parts that you think you might have touched.

Parts that are not part of the internal components of your rig like keyboard, mouse etc can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

[Tempstar]

Originally Posted by dma0991

I presume that while you're building your rig you won't have fingers soaked with that chemical, more towards a sticky feeling to your fingers rather than wet.

Thankfully I didn't have my fingers soaking in the chemical. Actually the chemical was dried on the batteries and was sort of a white powdery flaky substance. It looked similar to dried sugar or salt.

I wiped down the keyboard and mouse (and the desk tray they were on) with a damp cloth. Would you say that's OK?

Thanks!

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by Tempstar

Thankfully I didn't have my fingers soaking in the chemical. Actually the chemical was dried on the batteries and was sort of a white powdery flaky substance. It looked similar to dried sugar or salt.

Stick your fingers in your mouth.. if it tastes bitter then its still on your hands

[Tempstar]

One more thing: I also touched a bunch of games in their DVD cases after handling the battery. Do you think the chemical would cause any issues with the DVDs? I mean, if I touched the cases, and then open it, touch the disc inside, would transferring the chemical residue to the DVD cause it to degrade? Am I just being too worried?

[martin_metal_88]

If the acid was dry and all pouder, the only way it can get acid again is when wet. if some of your component or DVD have some on them, just keep them dry and you're all safe ;)

[_dangtx_]

yes,bad. powder = will go into your eyes,lungs etc.

i usually throw away the whole remote,50 bucks or whatever not worth my health

[Tempstar]

Originally Posted by _dangtx_

yes,bad. powder = will go into your eyes,lungs etc.

i usually throw away the whole remote,50 bucks or whatever not worth my health

dangtx, I agree totally and I did chuck the remote. I was more concerned about cross-contamination to my PC.

[Lpfan4ever]