I agree...

However, Just be sure that you don't get any of the bicarbonate solution into the vents or filler holes in the top of the battery itself!!!

Otherwise, when the fizzing eventually stops, your battery is dead...

Yes, I agree that bicarbonate of soda is an effective solution (no pun intended).

I have made the observation that a new battery does not seem to manifest a corrosion problem for quite some time. However, as the battery ages, it seems to require more frequent "de-corroding".

I wonder if anyone else can corroborate this and what might be the cause?

Maybe leaks develop around the terminals or a higher degree of outgassing of corrosive vapors?

I have noticed that a lot of battery corrosion problems are the result of the battery being filled to the correct level. It seems that went the battery is filled so you see the minscus (the curved shape of the acid in the filling holes), that the out gassing and sloshing that normally occurs in driving the car allows the acid to get into the breather cap(s) and as the battery charges the acid is carried out to the surface of the battery where it wicks on to the posts and causes the corrosion problem. Sometimes the battery will get tipped in shipping or during service procedures and this is the time that the acid is introduced into the cap. I have found it to be nearly impossilbe to remove all acid from modern battery caps. I think that only covering the plates with about 1/4 in of acid is plenty for correct battery operation.

As batteries get older they use more of discharge further each time they start the car and the alternator has to charge harder causing more out gassing which will increase the chance for the acid to get picked up and wicked on to the top of the battery.

Also as the battery gets older the liquid level will drop and over zealous service people will replace the low level with more that the required fluid and cause the above mentioned problem, that may have never occurred before.

Be sure that the battery is secured with proper mounting hardware so no tipping occurs.

Be careful that when you do clean the posts that you get the terminals clean down to the shiny silver pure lead. Many times there will be a hard black coat of lead oxide that forms on the post and the cable that the brush type cleaners will not penetrate. This you may find to be one of the best electrical insulators known to man, and cause many "no start" situations.

HOPE I HELPED........

Applying white grease prevents corrosion.

applying any grease will slow down corrosion,

But do not put it between the connection surfaces of terminal as a lot of people do, as grease will insulate the parts clean to shiny surface connect parts tighten and then grease once a month pour a solution of bicarb over battery top being careful not to get any into fillers.

Sprinkle normal every day baking soda onto the corroded terminals and then pour a can of Coca-Cola on it also works. It will also fizz and clean away the corrosion.

you dont need the coke,

the baking soda does all the work in neutalizing the sulhuric acid deposited on the terminals during gassing which occurs during charging,

may i suggest you try soda on one terminal and soda and coke on the other terminal and report back, it would be intresting