Not using Duracell are you? .... they are the only brand that I have experienced leaking in very many years.
By the time you notice the corrosion I doubt if there is any point worrying about whether it is alkaline/acid etc. Just a case of mechanically cleaning up as best you can and coating to prevent further deterioration. Vaseline seems as good as anything.
In the past I have known quality battery makers to replace an item damaged by leaking batteries if their batteries were the cause of the damage. Don't know if they still do but it must be worth a letter .