I agree - have also noticed I clean my machine more often than I used to. A lot seems to be caused from sewing with cotton threads, and it's not only the cheaper ones either. Some of the so-called better brands, and even those threads of polyester covered with cotton, are also causing lint. This is why I have started using poly or rayon more. Wish I could look into the bottom of my machines to see how much is stored in those dim dark corners.