Allie is four months and one week old. She plays with toys now. She pulls things towards herself. She chews and feels and explores.
Wanting to get a reprieve from holding her all day long, I decided to find some of Grace's old baby toys. She had a saucer, a walker, a jumperoo, and some assorted noisy toys at this age.
I knew that Allie would love them.
I hoped that Allie would love them enough for me to get some work done around the house and play with my firstborn and her dollhouse.
Maybe even exercise.
Or blog!
I don't ask for much.
My simple requests in mind, I crawled into our dank, dark basement crawlspace this morning, hoping not to meet anything with six or eight legs.
Twenty minutes later, I crawled back out with the toys, having successfully avoided all things creepy and crawly. Among the toys I found was Grace's Sing-Along Stage.
Assuming that my handy husband had removed the batteries before he stored it away, I grabbed some fresh AAs and a screwdriver and sat the baby in the Bumbo seat.
My handy husband had not, as it turns out, removed the batteries.
Three years in the dank, dark basement crawlspace, and the batteries had leaked their acid out into the battery compartment of the Sing-Along Stage.
"Rats!" I grumbled, causing Grace to come over to see what I was doing.
I cleaned out the battery compartment, making sure to get all of the acid and grime.
Unfortunately, as I cleaned, the springs that were supposed to hold the batteries in disintegrated and fell out.
"Now what am I going to do?" I said out loud.
You can play with me! Grace offered.
Not so helpful.
Anyway, this toy was awesome. It sang and played music and Grace would sit (and later stand) in front of it and dance and sing and watch herself in the mirror and I loved every minute.
I would not allow a little battery acid to stand between Allie and the awesomeness of the Sing Along Stage.
I put the batteries into the compartment even though the springs weren't there to hold them in. I hoped that, if I replaced the back panel, the batteries would not fall out and the toy would work.
Sometimes, I am more hopeful than smart.
I was wrong.
I contemplated, gnashing my teeth.
Then I had a brainstorm. What if the music failed to play because the circuit wasn't closed? Maybe those springs had a dual purpose!
If that was the case, I just needed something metal to wedge in there.
I was about to dissect some pens for their springs when I thought about aluminum foil. I grabbed the roll from the kitchen, tore off two little pieces, and rolled them into little balls.
After stuffing the little balls into the compartment where the springs had been, I replaced the batteries and the back panel.
And the toy started singing.
I was so proud of myself that I posted this on Twitter:
And then Grace took the toy from Allie and sat in front of the stage for an hour, singing and dancing and looking at herself in the mirror.
(I was too excited to look up the spelling ahead of time. It's actually MacGyver.)
Cheryl says
Thank you so much!! 🙂 I googled this, so glad I found your blog! I had my tin foil folded, which does not work. Saw you balled yours up, gave it a go and viola! Working toy! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Chris says
Thanks you!!! I was able to completely repair a Roku remote with this method.
krumbsnatchers4me says
Was trying to fix a swing for a baby. Opened it up and the springs were completely gone. Suggested the aluminum foil method to my husband and he simply laughed out loud. Googled looking for a more rational academic response and ran across your blog. THANK YOU!!!! One more for the Female revolution. He reluctantly tried the foil, while looking at me with a pathetic eye, and voila it worked.
Thanks
Christine says
THANKS you! You saved my life. My 6 month old now has his aquarium from fisher price back .... And he sleeps again! Thanks
Irma Garrett says
Thank you for the help your an awesome super mom
Anna says
This works like a charm! I had bought a second-hand Winnie the Pooh musical projector, only to discover that the previous owner had let old batteries in and that they had leaked. Even after some clean-up, the projector did not work. My husband was in favor of just tossing it, but I turned to Google and found your blog. The projector took 4 D batteries, so getting the foil in the right places took some doing, but I eventually managed (put some on all the contacts, even balling up tiny pieces to fit inside the springs). It now works perfectly!! I am not usually a very handy person, so I am very proud of myself. And now we know which parent our kids will depend upon to rescue their toys!!
Mrs P says
Was kindly lent a toy from a friend for my newborn. On returning it I found to my horror the batteries had leaked causing one spring to corrode! A new set of batteries and a small ball of tin foil and it works again! So relieved. Amazing tip and great photos to help. 🙂
dianna says
You ARE brilliant! Have an amazing musical clock that is now working because I happened on your post when I was trying to find a replacement for a corroded battery compartment. Thank YOU so very much.
Kade says
Found this on google search... Fixed a baby swing for my new infant son... It sat in storage for 4 years with batteries... My husband could not believe it.. He was shocked it worked.. Thank you soooooooooo much... I was looking to buy a swing for him, but was having a hard time finding one I liked... I was praying to find a way to fix his siblings old swing.. I went on google to search for a place I could take it to to pay and get it fixed, instead your post popped up and I read it.. So I said fine.. I will try to fixed it on my own... And it worked!!!!!
Maha says
Found this on google as well!!! You are awesome! thank you so much for this post. You saved me $$$, time and a joyful smile from my little one bless you for sharing this wonderful post bless you! It works great!!!!
prabha says
Hi I am from India and too tried this method your idea was simply too
great....my Thomas train is working back.
calvin says
Hello, I used this to fix an exercise bike. You are a genius! Thanks
Michelle says
Wow. I tried this on my little boys toot toot train and it worked 🙂 fab 🙂
K Oke says
Wow ... That really worked. Thanks a ton .... Salvaged a expensive toy that I thought I would have to throw away.
Thanks for the great tip.
KO
Jill says
Just another grateful parent here to say: THANK YOU!!! You really *are* brilliant to have come up with this idea, and I am SO very, very grateful that you were kind enough to post it here for all of us panicked parents to find by way of Google! You have no idea the sentimental value this toy has for my daughter, and I'm not sure if she or I was more heartbroken about the corroded batteries & broken off coils. It's a Fisher Pruce aquarium that she's had since birth (she's now 5 & 1/2) and it has been her nightly lullaby & nightlight combo. Yes, they still make them, but they're totally different now & we also wouldn't have had the money to buy another one anyway. So truly, I want to thank you so much! <3 This worked beautifully and all is well in our would again! 🙂
sheryl says
Thanks so much! My toy had come roaring back into life!
Jessica says
WOW!!! It really did work!!! I too salvaged a really expensive toy that I was going to throw away. A VERY BIG THANK YOU!
From: Jessica (Northern New Brunswick, Canada)
Tara, you should be nominated for some kind of prize. You have my vote. 🙂
Wanita says
Another happy reader in Alberta, Canada:) Thanks
Tabbie says
Thnk u sooo much it worked first try now I got to invest in some foil lol my baby thanks u too
Beth Reynolds says
Your solution keeps on giving!!! Left batteries in a Christmas Train decoration and knew the grandchildren would be so disappointed if it didn't work. Tried the balled up foil and it is flying around the track!!! Greatest idea I ever tried.
Julia nolan says
Wahoo!!!! It really worked!!! Thank you so much...you really are like McGyver!!!!
Michelle says
I love you so much! I never would have thought of that! I always opened the whole toy thinking it was an internal problem. Never could figure it out. Now our Barbie jeep is working again. Yay! Thank you!
Kate says
Thank you so very much for being brilliant and for positing this! I was determined to fix an expensive keyboard toy that has been in storage after a long move.
So, I googled and came across your bolg and am very happy; so is my son.
The toy is now working!
aisha butler says
YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!!!! I work in a photography studio; however, I keep my piano/keyboard here to play with from time to time. Well, I guess I had allowed too much time to pass...as I ended up in the same situation with broken springs and rust all over the place. I looked around...and of course, there is no aluminum here. All I had was a pack of some Extra chewing gum. The gum is wrapped in an aluminum/paper material. I folded the pieces, placed them between the batteries and the connector and yes my baby is working again!!!!!! Thank you!
Pam says
I could not find a solution anywhere until I found your post! I have never commented online ever, but had to thank you for reviving my very old portable CD player! What a simple solution!
Kelly says
Wow! I bought a toy for my daughter from an online yard sale and once I saw the corrosion I thought it was hopeless, but this worked! I love this trick - thank you so much for sharing it!!!!
Liz says
Thanks so much. Dora laptop is saved. Happy 4 year old!!!
BamBam says
I stumbled upon a vintage electronic football game I had stored away for decades. It's missing the battery cover, and a couple springs had fallen off from rust. Before attempting the foil trick, I cleaned the remaining connections with vinegar on a Q-Tip. There was a lot of battery corrosion, all over the battery slots, and connections. The vinegar removed quite a bit of it. After this, I balled up a couple small pieces of foil. The batteries fit nice and snug with the foil. Unfortunately, my football game didn't come back to life. The batteries got extremely hot to the touch. Even after removing them, and letting 'em sit out, they were still red-hot twenty minutes later. Kinda bummed, I couldn't revive it! 🙁
shelley says
Score! Your mad macguyver skills just saved my stationary bike!
Shaun Nash says
Hi, I was desperate to find a way to fix my old Power Ranger toy as one of the springs in the battery compartment came away due to corrosion.I Googled it & found your site.I followed your steps & it works now ! Awesome , thanks very much.