Since it's spring I thought I'd share some quick tips on how to clean your sewing machine at home as well as other sewing machine maintenance tips to help keep your machine running smoothly. It's really easy to follow a few simple routines that will improve your sewing machine performance as well as the life of your machine.

I always recommendation taking your machine into a local sewing machine dealer when something is really wrong with your machine - you don't want to risk making things worse. But before you do that, when was the last time you cleaned your machine?

A few years ago I had a good friend ask me if I knew how to fix her sewing machine. My default was to say, let's take in your machine to the dealer, but then asked when she'd last cleaned out the inside of her machine. She replied that she didn't think she ever had - she was afraid of doing something wrong.

So we opened up that machine and it was FULL as full could be of lint. After spending a few minutes cleaning out tons of lint (it was actually pretty satisfying), she tried sewing again and the machine worked like a charm!

So, important lesson: give your machine a regular lint cleanout and you'll have a happier machine and you. AND it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Simple, routine home maintenance will keep things running smoothly for a long time!

I'll walk you through the process with my Baby Lock machine. If you have a different machine, the mechanics may look a different but the principles are the same. You will want to follow the recommendations and instructions in the owner's manual for your specific brand or model.

(If you can't find your manual anymore, you can check with the manufacturer - most sewing machine manufacturers have an online library of past manuals. You can also often get a free replacement manual from the manufacturer.)

How to Clean a Sewing Machine

Before you start, turn off your machine (or unplug) and un-thread the machine.

Sewing Machine Cleaning Supplies

Get the necessary tools ready. They don't have to be fancy and many already come with your machine. Here are some of the cleaning tools I recommend. (You don't need all of them, but here's a variety to choose from.) 

• a hand held brush - make sure the bristles aren't loose to that you don't risk adding more unnecessary lint/debris to your machine
• small brushes - these are usually included with your machine
• screw drivers - also included with your machine for removing needle plate
• pipe-cleaner + a straw is great for gathering lint and dust
• flat head screwdriver
• optional - magnetic screw driver

One of my favorite tools are these micro-tip Sewing Machine Cleaning brushes from Quilt in a Day. They reach into small places and pull out lots of gunk. You can find other inexpensive sewing machine swab options here. There are a lot of other cleaning brushes and tools options available here as well.

Cleaning a Sewing Machine Step by Step

Remove the needle, presser foot, needle plate and bobbin.

Needle plates are often held in by small screws. Your machine should have come with a tool for loosening those screws. Be very careful not to loose these screws or drop them into the machine because they're difficult to replace.

Put them in a safe place right away. This is where the magnetic screwdriver can come in handy.

Carefully remove shuttle hook (picture 5) - the separate piece that the bobbin sits inside.

My machine is a drop-in bobbin loader from the top. Other front-loading bobbin machines will have typically have 2 removable pieces that come out: the bobbin case and the shuttle hook.

Using tools listed above, carefully brush out all loose lint. I like the Micro cleaning brushes for reaching into narrow, hard-to-reach small areas.

Before returning the bobbin case to the machine, check for burrs or rough edges. It should feel smooth. If it does not, you may need to replace this part. Check with your local sewing machine dealer.

When you're done cleaning, put everything back together in reverse order and you're good to go.

The whole process should only take 10 minutes or so if you do it regularly. For me that is after 2-3 bobbins of sewing. This is also a good opportunity to change your needle.

Regularly wipe off the dust from the machine exterior.

For an extra clean - every few months I do this:

Some machines you can remove the outside cover of the free arm.

If this piece is removed you can also use canned air to to blow dust out of the machine as long as the can is held straight and not at an angle. The biggest reason to not used canned air is the risk of blowing lint and thread deeper into the machine. With the outside cover removed you can blow the air (and the dust/link) away from the machine, not deeper inside.

(Important to hold the can straight so you don't blow any chemicals into the machine.) Or you could by a small rechargeable electric blower and not worry!

I learned this trick from the From the Workbench with Doug video series. If you have a Baby Lock Machine, Doug has over 25 troubleshooting and teaching videos that will teach you SO many things about your machine!

In this video Doug will walk you through all of the steps I shared above - and this way you can see them in video.

Oil the Machine

Refer to your owner's manual for instructions about oiling your machine. If you have an older, mechanical machine it probably needs oil more often than you think. Only use quality oil that is recommended by your manufacturer.

If you have a newer computerized machine, you do not need to oil the machine. I have not put oil in any of my Baby Lock Machines except the Baby Lock Accomplish because this is a purely mechanical, straight-stitch machine.

But you do need to take your computerized machine into a certified dealer annually for regular maintenance. The dealer will also lubricate any parts of the machine in need.

How Often Should You Clean Your Machine?

De-lint your machine after every 2-3 bobbins.  Clean immediately after sewing with flannel, minky or fleece as they're extra lint-y.

Take your machine into the dealer annually for service and maintenance. If you hate to be without your machine, schedule the annual maintenance at the same time you're going out of town!

It may seem like a hassle, but will save you a lot of trouble in the long run, enhance the performance of your sewing machine, and prolong the the life of your machine.

Other Machine Maintenance Tips:

Needles:

Change the needle often - I try to remember to change it every time I clean out my machine - (after 2-3 bobbins). If your machine is skipping stitches, breaking threads, etc, this is the first thing to do to trouble shoot. 

If you're trying to save money by using a needle longer, buy your needles in bulk - like this package of 100. I'm a lot more generous with my needle-changing knowing these needles were inexpensive.

I have a post about the different types of sewing machine needles here. Doug also has another helpful video about the sewing machine needles and how they work with a machine.

Thread Tips

Many new machines have tension disks that run through the machine to control the amount of pressure on the thread and feed it evenly through the machine. Because these disks are so sensitive it's important not to pull your thread backwards through the machine.  

When you need to change the thread, cut the thread near the spool and then pull the thread through the machine so that it comes out in the same direction as all stitching.

This will protect those tension disks.

Thread Storage

I know how pretty spools of thread look on those decorative stands. But we also know how dusty a sewing room can get. And if you run that dusty thread through your machine, you're going to add more dust and dirt to the interior of your machine - especially those sensitive tension disks.

If your spool is dusty, unwind and discard the outer layer of thread before you thread the machine. 

To prevent dusty thread, I recommend storing thread spools in an airtight box. My box is by Art Bin and I got it at Joann's. (They have a similar thread storage bin here.) You can find lots of other airtight Thread storage containers here.

Machine Storage when not in use

When not in use, keep your machine covered and unplugged. Most machines come with a cover. If not, a simple light-weight blanket will work too. Or if you want something pretty - I've got a list of quilted sewing machine cover tutorials here.

Cleaning and maintaining a sewing machine really is simple. Start creating the habit of a routine clean and needle change and your machine will be so happy.

This post is sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing Machines but all content, thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been a Baby Lock ambassador for over 7 years now and have loved every machine I've worked with.

If you're looking for recommendations for buying the right sewing machine for a beginner or ideas for upgrading your current machine,  I've got a post here on how to choose the perfect sewing machine, for any level or budget.