Sewing Machine Maintenance Checklist
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Do you enjoy sewing but struggle to keep your sewing machine maintained?
Don’t we all!
I want to give you some tips for how to maintain your sewing machine in between having it cleaned professionally. (Note: this advice is not meant to replace professional machine servicing.)
Sewing machine maintenance tips
1. Use your machine cover to prevent dust build up.
Something that is so easy to do that you may not have thought of is to keep your sewing machine cover on between uses. This will prevent dust and pet hair build up etc. from collecting on your machine especially if you do not use it often.
Covers usually come with sewing machines however you can also make one if you want to get fancy.
2. Regularly change your needles (optimally between every sewing project)
It’s always a good idea to regularly change your sewing machine needle. This keeps your needle from getting dull which makes your machine have to work harder to push the needle through the fabric and creates unnecessary strain on your machine.
Regularly change your sewing needle, ideally in between sewing projects, but you can go a bit longer depending on how much time your machine is in use for the specific project, or the type of fabric you are working with.
If you notice issues with your machine, changing the needle may fix it especially if you are working with thick fabrics. Replacing the needle can possibly fix the issue of your machine skipping stitches.
3. Gently Vacuum and brush away dust from the inside of your machine
Use a dry cloth to get off the dust on the outside of your machine.
Some people recommend using compressed air to spray lint and dust away, but I would recommend, instead, to use a vacuum cleaner. A small vacuum cleaner can suck out the dirt, instead of pushing it back in further into your machine.
I recommend trying these micro attachments for a shop vac or something similar to get into the hard to reach areas.
Also, use the small brush that comes with your machine, a mascara brush, or even a q tip or other type of small brush to loosen dirt and grim.
Tweezers are also a useful tool to have on hand to pull out thread or pieces of fabric that get lodged into small spaces.
4. Use sewing machine oil after vacuuming to lubricate the moving parts
This step will depend on your machine and how it operates. Always check your owners manual to determine where to oil or even if it is necessary.
If your manual does suggest oiling your machine, ensure to do it carefully and only as directed.
Also, ensure to buy the correct type of oil recommended for your specific machine.
If your machine does require oil it can be helpful to do so after dusting as removing the dust and lint can often remove the oil from the machine along with it.
It is helpful to do this only as directed by your manual.
5. Have your machine professionally serviced
Cleaning your machine yourself on a regular basis is a good way to ensure your machine keeps working properly. However, it is always a good idea to have your sewing machine professionally serviced every one to two years.
A professional sewing machine expert can ensure all the parts are functioning properly on a deeper level.
If you would like to learn how to thread your sewing machine check out this post.
