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[โ€“] 90 points 2 weeks ago* (8 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.

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  • [โ€“] 10 points 2 weeks ago (3 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.

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  • [โ€“] 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

    How does vinegar compare to a can of CRC?

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  • 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).

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