I normally remove the battery to prevent accidental activation in my flight bag.
Wouldn't a side benefit of removing the batteries be reducing the risk of corrosion which happens from time to time in battery powered appliances?
Jim
YES.
I've had all too many things be completely RUINED because the batteries inside decided to corrode and explode.
I’ve had good success with using vinegar to clean devices after batteries leak.
“Alkaline” batteries leak an alkaline (or ‘base’) solution. Vinegar, being an acid, will neutralize the alkaline stuff that leaks out (there’s an old chemistry mnemonic - an acid plus a base makes a salt plus water). I dip a toothbrush in vinegar, scrub the contacts and battery compartment, then use fresh water to rinse away the fizzy results.
Car and airplane batteries, on the other hand, are filled with an acid. To neutralize any resulting spills from those batteries I use baking soda mixed with water (sodium bicarbonate is a common, household, base). As with the vinegar, cleaning up creates a lot of fizzing and bubbles, with fresh water being used to rinse away the results.