DOTTYMO

I try to clean the bobbin casing on each change. Sometimes when quilting and the quilt on top I admit I do leave a good clean. Cotton bud around define spot and off I go.

maryb119

Me too. It's a good habit to get into.

miriam

I have bought quite a few machines with extremely clogged up bobbin areas. Makes me wonder if they knew how to clean it? Did the machine not sew right with it clogged so they got rid of it?

Caroline S

I use cotton tipped swabs in place of q-tips (like the ones found at the doctor's office). The sticks are wood, longer and stronger than q-tips. Q-tips are wimpy. I usually clean my machines at every bobbin change. One of these days I am going to get really brave and remove the housing to clean my Elna 7300. It should be just like deep cleaning a computer. And it would save me a $160 servicing.

Gabrielle's Mimi

I clean after 1 or 2 bobbins; more often if sewing on fleece or Minkie. I clean the bobbin area and also remove the plate that covers the feed dogs and clean there as well. I use Q-tips with a drop of machine oil on them. I store my little plastic oil bottle in a zip-lock bag along with a dozen or so Q-tips, then put all that in a second plastic bag. If there is any oil leakage it gets absorbed by the cotton swabs. I don't have any lint problems as long as I put oil on the swabs.

Pete

I have a Bernina 640E ---do you remove the throat plate and open the side like it shows?

patchsamkim

Good to keep up with the maintenance of your machine and clean out at least the bobbin area after every change. I try to do that, and then every 2 bobbins, will do a very thorough cleaning, taking out the bobbin case, cleaning everywhere I can get into, and oiling.

overdew

Cleaning varies with the machine I use. One Kenmore will "growl" at me when it gets dirty. Sewing surely makes lots of fuzzies. I use a vacuum, too. Warning: Don't ever "blow" dust out with a vacuum. It only sends it to areas where it causes more trouble, particularly with computerized machines. I think oiling is the life of mechanical machines.

roserips

Keeping my machine clean and well oiled cuts down on costly repair bills. I do a quick brush out after every bobbin and oil the hook. Major cleaning about every other week.

miriam

a link in case you need to know how to clean the bobbin area: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...y-t194930.html