"jbclem" wrote in message
...

I have a portable scanner, Regency HX 1500, that I haven't used for quite
a while.
There is a lot of powdery blue-green stuff that covers the metal battery
connectors/tabs. I've cleaned it off with q-tips dipped in alcohol, but
it always comes
back. I'm storing this scanner without the AA batteries it uses...is
there a way to
permanently stop this blue-green and what exactly is it?

It's acid. Try warm water and baking soda to neutralize it.

N