Originally Posted by IrishNY
I heard that putting a straw through a hole in the bottom of a paper cup and then put the vacuum hose in the paper cup works. I tried it and it works well. Really gets all the lint out.
What a fantastic idea!!! If you were within my reach I would hug you!
One of the best ways to cut down on the lint that builds up in our machines is to use a better quality thread. I love aurofil because it isn't a linty thread. It's a long staple egyptian cotton from Italy that sews like a dream. And you get more bang for your buck. If you fill up your bobbin with Aurofil, it will last twice as long because it isn't a thick thread, which means it also doesn't take up much space in piecing. I do use other things but I never use Coats and Clark. Their thread is considered one of the worst out there, for construction, lintiness, and for durability. I love the thread from Collecting Threads but it is
horribly linty and when I use it I find I have to clean out my machine every few hours. :( It wasn't until I started sewing for several hours a day that I noticed how different brands of thread leave or don't leave lint. I was also surprised at how quickly lint can build up.
I know a gal who collects sewing machines. She will buy any machine she finds in a garage sell. She says that 99 times out of a 100 the only problem with the machine is that it needs to have the lint cleaned out and oiled. That's it!