Mary Chambers
What is the proper way to maintain a sewing machine? You might have asked yourself this question before. Maybe you have even asked a family member or a friend for some advice to answer this. We have done some research of our own and found that there are various answers out there about what the best practices are for maintenance. While guidelines vary, the following are some general rules that everyone should follow for the best sewing machine life and sewing results.
After each use, make sure that you put a cover over your sewing machine. How you do this is up to you. Many people cover their sewing machines with blankets, homemade covers, or bed sheets. Others opt to use a sewing machine case. Regardless of your preference, doing this brings some great benefits. It will keep dust and other debris from collecting on it. It will also protect the various mechanical and electrical parts free from harm by pets, children, and objects in your home.
After each project, change the needle on your machine. We can't emphasize enough that we should appreciate just how much work the needle does for each job. If a needle becomes dull or bent, it can result in broken and looped threads, skipped stitches, pulls in your fabric, or damage to the machine itself. For large projects, you might want to consider switching it out with a new needle every 8 hours.
As you use your sewing machine, it will eventually develop a buildup of loose threads and lint particles in various places. It is important that you regularly clean these areas after completing sewing projects. The following are areas to clean and the needed tools to accomplish this.
Loosen the tension springs by raising the presser foot. Then, wipe muslin or a thin cloth between the tension discs to remove loose threads and lint. Spray the tension discs with compressed air. Make sure you aim the can away from the part so that you don't blow anything further into the machine.
Take off the throat place, bobbin case, and bobbin. With a small lint brush, dust under the feed dogs and around the bobbin area. Spray under the feed dogs and bobbin areas with a can of compressed air. Make sure that you do not spray to close to the machine or directly towards the inside of the machine to avoid spraying debris further into the machine or causing moisture to collect in it.
Regularly oil your sewing machine. The type of oil and the parts needing it applied can vary by sewing machine. Be sure to follow the directions in the manual that came with your sewing machine. If in doubt, you could always do a search on the internet or visit a professional servicing shop.
Let's face it. We can all put a lot of hard work into maintaining our sewing machines. And as long as you do so, you should be able to an experience having a long lasting machine. But even then, the things we have mentioned so far are not enough to guarantee the best performance from your machine. Be sure to bring your sewing machine in for sewing machine service regularly for tune-ups and checking such as Discover Sewing. They are your source for quality repairs and expert advice for all your sewing needs.
