I don't cover my machine, although it always sits out, however, it might not be a bad idea, especially since my cat's litter box is in the same room. I'll have to think about that. I try to clean my machine, especially after I have been doing a lot of sewing, as I have been doing recently, but I was told to never oil it and I don't even know where I would put the oil. That might be a good question to ask the next time I take mine in for servicing.