How to Fix a Fidget Spinner That's No Longer Spinning

Do you have a few fidget spinners that are wobbly, noisy, or no longer spinning? Good news! You don’t have to dump them off at Goodwill and forget about them. It’s super easy to fix your fidget spinner with just a little time and patience.

Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work. Your fidget spinner is about to look brand new!

Can You Fix a Fidget Spinner?

Yes, you can absolutely fix a fidget spinner. You just have to diagnose the problem first.

Here are some common fidget spinner troubles:

Not spinning
Loud and annoying
Rusty
Cracked

After you figure out what’s wrong, you can easily get that spinner fixed. No power tools required!

How to Fix a Fidget Spinner That Won’t Spin

A fidget spinner is designed to do one thing – spin. You’ll get it whirling again in no time, just follow these steps!

What you’ll need:

Butter knife
Olive oil
Q-tip
Compressed air
Towel

How to clean and fix a rusty fidget spinner:

Step One: Remove the cap from the center of the fidget spinner with a butter knife or your fingers.
Step Two: Blow compressed air into the ball bearing to get rid of any dust.
Step Three: Dip a Q-tip into olive oil and gently clean around the ball bearing.
Step Four: Dry the ball bearing with a clean towel. Give it about five minutes before replacing the cap.
Step Five: Put the cap back on the fidget spinner and give it a spin! It should be good as new.

Step 1

Carefully use a butter knife to remove the cap from the center of the fidget spinner. You also may be able to remove this piece with your fingers.
Step 2

Look and see if there’s any kind of particle or dirt hidden inside of the ball bearing. For safe measure, you can also use compressed air to get rid of any dust.
Step 3

Pour a bit of olive oil in the cap and dip a Q-tip inside. Use the Q-tip to wipe around the ball bearing.
Step 4

Dab the olive oil with a towel. Make sure there’s no residue left inside and give your fidget spinner about five minutes to completely dry.
Step 5

Replace the cap back on top of the ball bearing. That’s it! Your fidget spinner is now ready to spin again.

If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the ball bearing inside of your fidget spinner. You can buy this piece at most hobby or hardware stores so do your research and see what you can find.

Do you need a new ball bearing?
Watch this video to see how to take apart a fidget spinner!

How to Make a Fidget Spinner Spin Longer

Your fidget spinner can keep going and going and going. If you want to increase its spin time, try any of these strategies!

Apply Lubricant or Vegetable Oil

Remove the ball bearing and add lubricant or vegetable oil around the edges. This will reduce the friction and make the spinning a bit smoother.

Try a Metal, Ceramic, or Hybrid Spinner

Choose a metal, ceramic, or hybrid (combo of metal and ceramic) fidget spinner instead of a plastic one. These materials have more weight, which means the blades will spin a lot longer.

Add Weight

Look for a fidget spinner with thicker blades as these are typically heavier. You can also choose one that has weighted rings on the ends.

Double the Rings

Take the rings from one fidget spinner and stack them on top of the rings in another spinner. Now you have double the rings on each blade, which means more weight and more momentum.

Go to Outer Space

Do you have a rocket ship handy? Climb onboard and bring your fidget spinner along. The gravity would force the spinner to keep on going around in circles.

You might not be able to go to Mars, but no worries! There are plenty of other ways to defy physics and make your fidget spinner spin for a long time like adding lubricant to the ball bearing or more weight to the rings.

Either option will keep your spinner going for a longer time. It might also make it go faster!

How to Make a Fidget Spinner Quieter

The last thing you want is to annoy the people around you with your fidget spinner. Luckily, you can make this toy way quieter with a super simple hack.

You only need a can of silicone spray to make your fidget spinner quieter. Spray the silicone into the ball bearing and give it a few minutes to settle. Replace any caps you removed from the top and test out your spinner. It should be way less noisy than when you first started.

Silicone spray is available at most hobby or craft stores. Plus, it has more than one purpose. You can use this spray again to lubricate wiper blades, door locks, garage doors, and even zippers!

How to Clean a Rusty Fidget Spinner

Metal fidget spinners can easily get rusty over time. You can get rid of any rust that builds up in just six easy steps.

What you’ll need:

Toothbrush
Two large bowls
White vinegar
Rubbing alcohol
Q-tips
Hairdryer

How to clean and fix a rusty fidget spinner:

Step One: Take any caps off of the fidget spinner.
Step Two: Soak the fidget spinner in a bowl of white vinegar for at least five minutes.
Step Three: Scrub the white vinegar into the ball bearings and rings using a toothbrush.
Step Four: Dip the fidget spinner into a bowl of rubbing alcohol. Use the same toothbrush to scrub the ball bearing and rings with the rubbing alcohol.
Step Five: Use a hair dryer to dry the fidget spinner.
Step Six: Replace the caps and enjoy playing with your rust-free fidget spinner!

Step 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXZE01Or4Mw

Remove the caps from the spinner. This would include any on top of the ball bearing and on the rings.
Step 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXZE01Or4Mw

Place the spinner in a bowl of white vinegar. Use a Q-tip to swirl it around, making sure to get into the ball bearing and rings. Let it sit in the vinegar for at least five minutes.
Step 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXZE01Or4Mw

Dip an old toothbrush into the white vinegar and scrub the ball bearing and the rings. Make sure to get all around these pieces and flip the spinner over to clean the other side as well.
Step 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXZE01Or4Mw

Once you’ve cleaned the ball bearing and rings with the toothbrush, the next step is to dip the fidget spinner into a bowl of rubbing alcohol. You can use the toothbrush or the Q-tips to get inside of the ball bearing and rings.
Step 5

Now it’s time to dry your fidget spinner! Use a hair dryer set on low and blow warm or cool air onto your spinner. Be careful not to let your hair dryer get too hot as this could cause burns! You can also use a towel for this step if you don’t have a hair dryer.
Step 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXZE01Or4Mw

Replace the caps on your spinner. You’re now ready to whirl!

You have all the ingredients and tools you need right at home to remove rust from your fidget spinner. Get to work!

How to Fix a Cracked Fidget Spinner

Let’s say you were getting a little too aggressive with the tricks, and your fidget spinner is cracked or broken. You can bring it back to life easily with just a little Super Glue.

It’s important to let the glue dry completely. Give it about 20 minutes and then test your fidget spinner out. You should be able to use it again without any issues.

This strategy works best for minor scuffs and cracks. If your fidget spinner is broken into pieces, it’s better to just invest in a new one!

How Do You Clean a Fidget Spinner?

A good way to make sure your fidget spinner lasts is by cleaning it regularly. This may seem like a weird thing to do, but it’s worth it in the long run!

What you’ll need:

Rubbing alcohol
Two large bowls
Dish soap
Sponge
Towel
Q-tips
Compressed air
Screwdriver (optional)

Here’s how to clean a fidget spinner:

Step One: Remove any caps. This includes the one in the middle.
Step Two: Submerge the spinner in a bowl of rubbing alcohol.
Step Three: Use a Q-tip to swirl the alcohol around, which allows it to work into the ball bearing in the center.
Step Four: Clean the caps with warm water and soap in a different bowl. Make sure you dry them right away with a towel.
Step Five: Remove the spinner from the rubbing alcohol. Dab it dry with a towel.
Step Six: Blow out any remaining residue or water from the ball bearing and rings using a can of compressed air.
Step Seven: Put all the pieces back together and get to spinning!

Step 1

Take all the caps off your fidget spinner, including the one in the middle and any on the rings. You will clean these separately.
Step 2

Submerge the spinner in a bowl of rubbing alcohol. You can take the rings and the ball bearing out with a screwdriver if you want a deeper clean, but you can also leave them intact if that’s easier.
Step 3

Swirl the alcohol around in the bowl with your Q-tip. Make sure you get around the ball bearing and the rings. If you took the spinner apart, dip the Q-tip in the alcohol and rub it around the ball bearing and rings while they sit on the towel.
Step 4

While your spinner is soaking, clean the caps with warm soapy water in a separate bowl. Wipe them dry right away with the towel.
Step 5

Your spinner has been soaking for long enough! Take it out of the bowl of rubbing alcohol and dry it with the towel.
Step 6

It’s important that your fidget spinner is totally dry and free from any remaining gunk. Use the compressed air to blow into the ball bearing and rings.
Step 7

Put all the pieces back together and have fun playing with your squeaky clean fidget spinner!

It goes without saying that you should never get an LED or battery operated fidget spinner wet. Technology and water do not work well together!

However, feel free to clean any standard fidget spinner using the steps above. A little bit of TLC will help keep your spinner in pristine condition!

Can You Recycle a Fidget Spinner?

You can recycle a fidget spinner, but you have to remove the metal pieces first and recycle them separately. The plastic might not be recyclable, so be sure to check with the manufacturer for more information.

An LED or Bluetooth fidget spinner is a different story. These run on electricity or batteries and aren’t as easy to recycle. It’s better to donate those old fidget spinners instead.

What to Do with Old Fidget Spinners

It’s always better for the planet to find a new use for your old items. Fidget spinners are no exception, and there are a ton of fun projects and ideas you can try!

Here’s what you can do with your old fidget spinners:

Save the ball bearing
Turn it into a car
Make jewelry from the rings
Create a spinning wheel
DIY serving platter
Donate

Save the Ball Bearing

The ball bearing is the middle piece that makes your fidget spinner move. It can be used for future art projects, like your kid’s school assignments.

Turn It Into a Car

Your fidget spinner might not be able to spin, but it can still roll. Fit rubber bands on the outside of the blades, and then hot glue your “wheels” to a block or bottle. You can also use the fidget spinner as the top of the car and add bottle caps to the bottom.

Make Jewelry

The metal rings on each blade can be taken out of the fidget spinner. Paint them or leave them as is, and you can turn them into necklaces, earrings, or bracelets.

Create a Spinning Wheel

Okay, so maybe your spinner doesn’t go as long as when it was brand new. No worries! You can turn it into the spinner in the middle of a wheel. Use it for birthday party games or group work in the classroom!

DIY Serving Platter

Are you hosting a big event? Hot glue the fidget spinner to the bottom of a nice plate, and it will easily rotate for all your guests. This works particularly well for displaying sweet treats like cupcakes and cookies.

Donate

If you’re not a crafty person, you can always bring your old fidget spinners to a Goodwill or Salvation Army. There’s someone out there who’ll find another use for your spinner.

The Bottom Line

You have everything you need to take care of your fidget spinner. Show it some love, and it can last you for years. It starts with fixing what’s broken, keeping your spinner clean, and when all else fails, finding a DIY project instead!

References

Jager, C. (2017, May 31). How to Fix a Jammed Fidget Spinner. Retrieved from,
https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/05/how-to-fix-a-jammed-fidget-spinner/

Vasan, K. Make Your Fidget Spinner Spin Longer. Retrieved from,
https://www.instructables.com/Make-Your-Fidget-Spinner-Spin-Longer/

Sadler, W. (2017, September 11). 3 Ways to Get Your Fidget Spinner to Spin Longer. Retrieved from,
http://www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk/exploring-science/3-ways-to-get-your-fidget-spinner-to-spin-longer

Dean, S. (2017, October 16). Here’s What Happens When Astronauts Use a Fidget Spinner in Space. Retrieved from,
https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-what-happens-when-astronauts-use-a-fidget-spinner-in-space

Grizzly. (2017, June 14). How to Fix Noisy Fidget Spinners. Retrieved from,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5PPjnPza-U

Berryman Products. (2017, February 24). 22 Uses for Silicone Spray You Probably Didn’t Already Know Of. Retrieved from,
https://www.berrymanproducts.com/22-uses-silicone-spray/

Happy Hands Toys. (2017, May 22). How to Clean a Rusty Fidget Spinner. Retrieved from,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXZE01Or4Mw

Artkala. (2018, March 12). 5 Coolest Ideas to Reuse Waste Fidget Spinner. Retrieved from,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csNYigk_pLw

Shapley, H. (2017, June 29). Where Will All the Fidget Spinners Go? Retrieved from,
https://earth911.com/living-well-being/fidget-spinners-recycle/

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How to Fix a Fidget Spinner: What to Do If It’s Loud, Cracked, or Just Not Spinning

Can You Fix a Fidget Spinner?

How to Fix a Fidget Spinner That Won’t Spin