you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] 63 points 10 hours ago* (18 children)

Get the batteries out and wipe the electronics with a soft towel soaked with a little vinegar to neutralize the corrosion. Then a damp towel with just water to get the vinegar up. Let it fully dry before putting in new batteries. This happens to batteries that have sat unused for a long time installed. It can also happen if at the end of charge, you pull the batteries out, and put them back in to squeeze a little more use out of the batteries. Do it too many times and there is a leak risk. Cheaper batteries do it more often but the top brands will occasionally leak as well.

  • source
  • hideshow 18 child comments
  • [โ€“] 4 points 5 hours ago (1 child)

    This is the way. Sometime I even file down the spring/contacts with a nail file to expose fresh metal rather than corrosion. Just a few light scratches helps greatly.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [โ€“] 19 points 10 hours ago (9 children)

    Vinegar here really does the trick in neutralizing the acid. do not skip it!

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 9 child comments
  • [โ€“] 68 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

    Vinegar (Acetic Acid) does not neutralise any acids at all.

    It does however, neutralise the caustic, alkaline contents of a non-rechargeable alkaline cell (potassium hydroxide).

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [โ€“] 1 point 10 hours ago (4 children)

    How the shit? Just use baking soda in water instead.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [โ€“] 13 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

    I believe the comment you are replying to meant to say corrosion not acid.

    This is some sort of electrochemistry, more complex than just acid/base

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [โ€“] 8 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

    I found an old plush that had a voicebox in it... I've not touched it in 25+ years but wanted to show it to my daughter, so I pulled out the battery box, expecting the worse, and there was no corrosion at all. I pulled out the generic brand batteries and put in new batteries and it started speaking.

    I was amazed.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [โ€“] 2 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

    How does vinegar compare to a can of CRC?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • It doesn't.

    CRC is a hydrocarbon based cleaning solution similar to isopropyl alcohol. Vinegar works to clean the alkaline corrosion specifically because it is acidic, so it will both neutralize the alkalinity and also act as a mild etchant.

    It is important that you thoroughly clean all of the vinegar, since leaving it on for too long will etch away the copper (though when I say "for too long", I mean a very long time).

  • source
  • parent