Whenever you sew, no matter what material you choose, lint, dust and fuzz will build up in your bobbin area, around the tension disc, and in other places. Even when cutting material, the fabric will shed fine particles, causing lint, dust and fuzz to build up. Just remember this, "where there is fabric, there lint will be." If this lint is left to build up, it can cause major problems with the function of your machine. Hence, a good rule of thumb is to clean your machine when you finish sewing. In order to keep your machine clean and running smoothly, you will need the following:
- A soft, clean cotton cloth for dusting your machine and around the machine. A cheescloth or a cloth diaper would be great.
- A lint brush to clean small areas. A small brush usually comes with the machine or you can buy a paint brush.
- Tweezers can be used to pick up wads of lint, as well as, to pull threads through the needle, etc.
- A small screwdriver for attachments and adjustments.
The most important part of sewing machine care is regular oiling. But, guess what? SOME MACHINES NEVER NEED OILING! If you are using one of the old machines with the cabinets, you, more than likely, need to oil your machine on a regular basis. Check the machine manual before doing so. If you do not have a manual, do a search on www.amazon.com to find a manual for your particular machine. If you use your machine every day, you will, probably, need to oil your machine every week (check the manual). Some only need to be oiled once a year, others every three months or so. Oiling a sewing machine too much is just as bad as not oiling it enough. Whether you oil the machine yourself or take it to a machine shop, ALWAYS CLEAN YOUR SEWING MACHINE BEFORE OILING Your machine should be oiled sparingly and after you have finished sewing for the day. When you have finished oiling your machine, wipe any excess oil off with a cloth and leave a strip of material under the presser foot for twenty-four (24) hours, or at least overnight. I know that some of us cannot be without our sewing machine buddies for long. The first time you sew on your machine, after oiling, use a scrap piece of material, first, and wipe your machine once again. You want to make sure that no oil will soil your material. Both you and your machine will be much happier and work more efficiently.
