Basic Sewing Machine Maintenance
                                                                                                                                     



















Keep your sewing machine covered when it’s not in use
                                                                                   

    Or place it in its case or cabinet. This will keep the dust away and you’ll have less cleaning to
    do later. You can get a plastic cover from a sewing store or you can make your own cover.


Clean your machine
                                                                                   

    Important: Before performing any type of maintenance on your sewing machine, unplug it first.

    Lint from thread and fabric accumulate on the interior parts of your machine. Clean this lint out
    after every project or after about eight hours of continuous sewing.

    Unthread your machine and take out the bobbin. Remove the pressure foot and the needle,
    then…

    Clean the surface of your machine
    Dust the outside of your machine with a soft cloth. Use a damp cloth on any stains. Never
    spray any liquid directly on your machine. Use a brush or cotton swab to clean out the
    thread guides and the various nooks and crannies.

    Clean between the tension disks
    Raise your pressure foot mechanism to loosen the tension springs. Clean between the
    tension disks with a clean cloth. Or blow the lint out using a can of compressed air*.

    Clean the bobbin area and under the needle plate
    Remove the needle plate (also called the throat plate). Refer to your manual if you
    don’t know how to remove it – some snap out and others have to be unscrewed. Open
    the slide plate to expose the bobbin area. Clean out any lint with a small brush, cleaning
    the bobbin area and around and under the feed dogs. Or use a can of compressed air*
    or vacuum the lint out. Use a pair of tweezers to pick out any stubborn lint. Remove your
    bobbin case (consult your manual) and clean away any lint.

    Inspect your needle plate
    Before putting your needle plate back, check it for nicks or burrs. Smooth out any you find
    with an emery cloth.


Oil your machine periodically, if your machine requires it
                                                                                   

    Oiling lubricates the moving parts of your machine and helps prevent rust. Some machines need
    to be oiled, some do not. Consult your manual to see if your particular machine needs to be
    oiled and if so, which parts to oil.

    Oil your machine every few months or as instructed by your manual.

    Tips for oiling your machine
  • Use just a small amount of oil, one drop on each part.
  • Use only sewing machine oil.
  • After oiling your machine, sew some scraps of fabric to catch any excess oil before
    starting your project.


Get your machine professionally serviced
                                                                                   

    Get your machine serviced (the tension balanced and the machine thoroughly cleaned and
    oiled) about every two years or as instructed by your manual.


Tips for preventing sewing machine problems
                                                                                   

  • Use a new, sharp needle for every project or change your needle after eight hours of
    continuous sewing.


  • Don’t over wind your bobbin with too much thread.

  • Use a good quality, brand name thread.

  • Use the correct pressure foot for your type of fabric.

  • Don’t sew over pins.

  • Don’t pull your fabric as you sew.

  • Before you start to sew a seam, grasp the thread tails from the upper and bobbin
    threads. Hold them back and out of the way for your first couple of stitches. This will keep
    the threads from getting caught in your machine.


Some recommend against using compressed air to clean your sewing machine because you could end up blowing
lint into your machine instead of out of it. Or the cold air could cause condensation on the interior and promote
rust. If you choose to use canned air, hold the can at an angle and several inches away from your surface.







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Performing periodic maintenance on your sewing
machine is important. A well-maintained machine
will likely run better and prevent annoying, time
consuming, and costly problems later.

Since there are so many sewing machine models
out there, this is meant to be an overview of the
basics. Consult your manual for the specific
maintenance needs of your machine.

Note: If you need the manual for your sewing
machine, try visiting your manufacturer’s website.
They often have old manuals available for download
or purchase.

Basic Tips:
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Sewing How-To:
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