Is Vinegar Safe for Cleaning Battery Acid from My CD Player?

Yes, you can use vinegar, but be careful and apply it with a Q-tip. Let it sit for a bit, then scrub lightly with a toothbrush or brass bristles if it's really caked on. After that, rinse it out with some rubbing alcohol. Just a heads up, the metal parts may lose some plating, so it’s good to clean them up regularly in the future. Some products like Deoxit or local contact cleaners might also help protect against corrosion.

You could also just use a wet cloth to wipe it down, which might be simpler. If you don’t have vinegar, this might do the trick!

Another method I've tried is using the eraser on the end of a pencil. It might be surprising, but it can work well for getting rid of residue.