'Twas the day after Christmas
and all through the house,
Not a toy was unbroken,
not even Mickey Mouse.

Sound like your house? Toys get some rough treatment and, unfortunately, many of them don't stand up to it very well. That means someone (guess who) is going to have to fix the toy or toss it. Fixing it is really the better option, so let's take a look at how to fix all those things we collectively call "toys."

How Does It Work?

A toy, of course, is an object for a child (or some adults) to play with. A visit to any toy store demonstrates the enormous variety of toys available for children. However, many of those toys have common elements and many can be repaired following a few simple principles. They roll, move, make noises, or include numerous parts.

What Can Go Wrong?

Plastic toys and plastic parts of toys break. Battery-powered toys lose their power. The most common problem with rolling toys is losing their wheels, axle, or handle. All kinds of inflated balls deflate over time and occasionally leak.

How Can I Identify the Problem?

If a battery-powered toy won't run, the problem is often with a battery or the battery charger (see below).

Fix-It Tip

By far the biggest problem with battery-powered toys is that the batteries run down because a switch was left on. Check underneath these toys to see if there are on-off switches that should be off, and remind the child to turn off the toy when he or she is done playing with it.

If a plastic toy or a plastic part of a toy breaks, you can bond it with adhesive (see below).

If a plastic part comes loose from a piece of wood or metal, drill holes through both surfaces and fasten them with bolts or rivets.

If a wheeled toy loses a wood or metal wheel, you can repair or replace it (see below).

If an axle is broken, you can replace it (see below).

If a ball deflates, reinflate it with a hand pump. If the ball doesn't retain air, you can repair and reinflate it (see below).

If a stuffed or other fabric toy is torn or has a seam come undone, see  the Doll Fix-It Guide and the sewing section of the Tools Fix-It Guide.

What Parts, Materials, and Tools Do I Need?

Replacement parts are available from the manufacturer and aftermarket suppliers as well as from local hardware stores and craft shops. The tools you will need to fix various toys include these:

• Screwdrivers
• Pliers
• Mallet
• Hammer
• Electric drill
• Pump with inflating needle
• Bolts and other fasteners
• Sandpaper
• Elastic band, string, or tape
• Masking tape
• Adhesives
• Dowels
• Steel rods

Fix-It Tip

Keep a wide selection of glues and adhesives in your fix-it toolbox for emergency repairs. If the containers are small, also keep the packaging because it will have instructions in a larger typeface than that appearing on the adhesive container.

Apply adhesive to the broken toy following recommendations on the adhesive label.

Bond a broken plastic toy:

1. Lightly roughen both edges of the break with sandpaper and wipe off any dust.
2. Apply adhesive (see the Adhsives section of the Stationay Things Fix-It Guide to determine the best type of adhesive for the item) to both surfaces to be joined.
3. Clamp the pieces securely with an elastic band, string, or tape.
4. Let the repair dry thoroughly before releasing the clamp.

Make sure the battery terminals make an electrical connection with the toy's contacts.

1. Test the batteries and replace as needed.
2. Verify that the batteries are inserted all the way, touching the contacts. If the battery does not touch the contacts, use a screwdriver to gently pry up the contacts just enough to make good contact.
3. Check for corrosion on the terminals and clean them if needed.
4. If the toy uses a rechargeable battery, examine the charger as well as the battery.

Repair a split wood wheel:

1. Drill holes in each piece of the broken wheel for the dowels.
2. Add wood glue to the dowels (for more on glue, see the Adhesives secton of the Stationay Things Fix-It Guide).
3. Clamp the wheel together with masking tape.

Replace a broken axle:

1. With pliers, pry off the push nuts and unscrew the lock washers. Remove the wheels and flat washers, then slide out the axle.
2. Cut a new axle from a round steel rod. Install the axle, then slide flat washers and wheels on the ends of the axle. Place lock washers over the wheels.
3. Install a push nut over the ends of the axle and tap them into place with a hammer.

Mend a leak in a sport ball:

1. Submerge the ball in a tub of water and rotate it slowly, looking for escaping air bubbles that identify a hole. Dry the area, then mark the leak with a piece of masking tape.
2. Heat the blade of an old knife or screwdriver by moving it back and forth over a flame. Rub the hot blade over the leaky area until the vinyl melts. Let the vinyl harden for at least 5 minutes.
3. Reinflate the ball by pushing the inflator needle into the ball's valve hole. Use a hand pump to inflate the ball to the recommended pressure. Don't overinflate. You also can use a bicycle tire tube patch kit to repair leaking sports balls. Get one at bicycle shops, sporting good stores, or large discount stores and follow the instructions provided.

Stop a leaking valve:

1. Clean the valve with a wet inflating needle inserted a few times to wash away dirt and debris.
2. If the problem persists, plug the valve by breaking off a toothpick in the hole.

Fix-It Tip

Can't fix that toy? Don't throw it away! You may be able to use wheels, motors, axles, and other parts to fix future toy breaks.