Caring For Your Sewing Machine

Sewing machines require cleaning at least every three months on average. Spending more time sewing requires a more often cleaning schedule. Buildup and grime comes from continually running fabric and thread through your machine. The more time you spend sewing the more buildup would accumulate. Knowing how to clean your sewing machine, whether it is used often or kept at storage is important.

Wondering how to tell if your sewing machine needs a clean-up? As for any machine, sewing machines also show signs of lag and slow down, which signifies the need to clean it. The accumulation of dirt and grime affects your sewing machine greatly. Whenever you feel a significant decrease in the machine’s performance, it is time to clean it up.

How to Clean Your Sewing Machine: First Steps

1. Safety - Sewing machines are heavy equipment with sharp needles. Always take precaution when cleaning these machines.

- Always turn off your machine prior to cleaning. Always unplug the machine and remove the pedal before anything else. This is a good way to prevent unwanted injuries or damages to the machine.

2. Readiness – Prepare all the tools before starting the process.

- Having all the materials and tools ready saves you time. Always read the product manual for any specific instructions regarding the machine clean up.

- In taking the machine apart, taking photos along the process can help you when you need to put things back again.

- Always store the small pieces in a secure place; somewhere easy to find.

Cleaning Your Sewing Machine Inside and Out

Things to prepare:

      1.       Sewing Machine

      2.       Cleaning Brush (alternative - Toothbrush)

      3.       Canned Air

      4.       Newspaper / Scrap Fabric

      5.       A Well-Lit Area

      6.       Clear Tape (optional)

      7.       Camera (optional)

Steps in cleaning your sewing machine:

1. Ready all the tools and materials needed, prepare your workspace. A clean and sturdy table in a well-lit area is necessary to clean the machine properly. Use the newspaper or fabric to protect your table from scratches.

2. Learning how to take the machine apart is important in cleaning your machine properly. To clean the insides of the machine well, taking it apart cautiously is mandatory. Always refer to the machines manual on proper machine dismantling.

3. After learning on how to handle the machine correctly, carefully take it apart. Always ensure that small pieces like screws and other small parts are kept securely. Just note that the space under the needle plate requires to be cleaned more often than other parts of the machine.

4. Use the canned air and point in towards the biggest pieces of built-up grime and gunk. Be sure to point the nozzle away from yourself and see to it that it is angled out of your machine.

5. Use the brush to remove the remaining dust out of your machine. A thick paintbrush works well too, just remember to frequently clean the brush you use and remove the gunk from it.

6. Use a dry cloth to wipe the machine to ensure that all the dust are removed before reassembling the machine.

7. Reassemble the sewing machine, remember to give extra care while putting the parts back. Use the photos taken (if any) or the machine’s manual as reference.

8. After reassembling the machine, consider wiping the machine’s exterior as well.

9. After thoroughly cleaning the machine, remember to also clean the space around the sewing machine, or the table where the machine is usually located.

10. The machine is once again ready for your sewing projects. Always put extra care for your machine, the more it is cared for, the longer it will last.