For machine use, you are supposed to just draw a line of the stuff across the threads on your spool. My sewing machine technician advised against using such products as the lubricant can get in the tension discs and gum them up. I have heard of people affixing a small cotton ball above the needle and putting it on that. The thread gets lubricated, but it doesn't go thru the machine innards. As far as I'm concerned, for machine sewing, if a thread doesn't work, I give it away!