If you’re a keen crafter, your sewing machine is likely one of your most prized possessions — and depending on how advanced your machine is, can represent a significant investment too. Want to keep it in top condition? These tips will help you maintain all kinds of sewing machines, from overlockers to overstitch and embroidery machines.
Keep dust away
Dust in any machinery can cause a big problem. And sewing machines can face a lot of lint from fabrics. We recommend wiping down your sewing machine thoroughly after every use and keeping it covered when it’s not in use.
Once a week or so (depending on how heavy your usage is), use a little brush to thoroughly clean out the dust and lint from your machine. Do this by removing the needle and thread, removing the bobbin and other parts from the bobbin compartment and cleaning as far into the mechanism as you can without hurting yourself — or losing your brush!
It’s best to avoid using compressed air for cleaning, as this can push dust and lint further into your machine.
Essential maintenance
Routinely dusting your sewing machine is a good habit to follow, but because they are complex inventions, you will need to stick to a maintenance schedule to really look after it.
Cleaning and oiling
Your sewing machine will need to be cleaned and oiled regularly to keep everything moving smoothly. A general rule to follow is to clean and oil your machine after every 5-10 days of use. Of course, this is only guidance and your individual machine may have different needs. For example, if you’ve been working with heavier upholstery fabrics, like leather, or fabrics that shed more, like tweed or faux fur, you may find you need to clean and oil your machine more often.
Your best bet is to check your sewing machine’s manual — this will contain instructions on how to oil it. Remember to only use oil designed for sewing machines!
During cleaning, remember to clean one part and then the next, rather than attempting to do the whole machine at once. This will avoid having small parts and screws strewn everywhere, which could make re-assembling your sewing machine a complex and risky task!
Needles
Finally, your needle works hard, so changing it regularly will prevent it from becoming dull. (A blunt needle can lead to messy stitches). Again, how often you need to change your sewing machine needle will again depend on how much use your machine has seen and what materials you have been working with. So use your best judgement and err on the side of caution if you’re not sure.
When you’ve finished cleaning and oiling your machine and have refreshed the needle, do some test stitches on scrap fabric. This will makes sure you’re happy that everything is working again as it should be.
Leave it to the professionals at Franklins Group
As with all machinery, your home maintenance schedule should be supplemented by getting your sewing machine serviced every one to two years by a reputable professional to keep it in tip-top condition.
Have you noticed a fault with your sewing machine? If so, it’s always best to seek advice from a professional unless you’re super confident you can fix it yourself.From coverstich troubleshooting to machine servicing, the team at Franklins Group can help. Plus, if you bought your machine from Franklins, you can get a discount on your invoice total! Feel free to get in touch with our Service Department for support or bring your machine to your nearest Franklins store. Our factory-trained engineers can provide you with free quote on servicing your sewing machine.