Alkaline battery leak - cleaning contacts

[chris1982]

I was given some baby toys that are operated by batteries but the previous owners hadn't removed the alkaline AA batteries. They leaked and there is some corrosion on the plus and minus contacts of the battery compartment.
How can I clean this up and make sure they are good conducters again?
I scrapped as much as I could but the spring on the minus side looks still rather bad. At the moment the toy isn't working and I think that this might be the problem.

 

[Diver Fred]

Citric Acid (Lemon Juice). make up a solution or neat lemon juice. wipe over the contacts/springs with a cotton bud. clean off with a another cotton bud moistened with water.
Check all wires as far as possible.

 

[chris1982]

Thanks, I shall give that a go!

 

[Tigercubrider]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Scratch-Br...2%26rvr_ts%3D726921d91650aadaf9907e79ffe53098

A fibreglass brush cleans corrosion off contacts. Avoid splinters in your fingertips

 

[FrodoOne]

Although you may have a limited space in which to work, a small file will take the surface back to bare metal.
If the terminals are not clamped to plastic (sometimes they are in slots) it may then be possible to remove them and coat the contact surface with solder.

 

[Jackrae]

I've found a cotton bud with WD40 works quite well

 

[chris1982]

Thanks all, used some vinegar and then the fibre brush and that worked. (The music the baby toy plays turns out to be unbearable though!)