You NEVER want to use canned air on your machines, it will force the lint back and pack it in, and you will have real trouble then. What you want is an attachment to your vacuum cleaner, they sell them at sewing stores or computer stored, you want to vacuum the lint OUT, not pack it in...and use a brush under the throat plate first to loosen threads and such. If your machine requires oil, only oil after thoroughly cleaned, otherwise, you might be down until you can purchase a new machine. Don't even ask me how I know all this....:)

I have a Brother and I use it all the time just try to blow it away from other working parts but it works great. I also use it to blow out other hard to get to places.

I have two friends who are certified techs for Bernina and they use canned air all the time when we are at retreats. In the shop the techs us a compressor to blow out the dust. My understanding is that the air form a can or compressor is fine but if you blow w/your mouth it tends to push the lint further in the machine rather than out of the machine.

I agree that I have heard not to used canned air for the machine, especially closed areas in electronic machines. I have not tried the mini-vacuums though I have the attachments. I do use the lint brush.

My dealer also uses a compressor. Told me to take my machines out to my hubbies shop and use his once a month to really blow it out, then in between times to the shop, the canned air is fine. Knock on wood........I've never had any trouble.

I have never used canned air on any machine so I am clueless as to whether you should or should not use it.

They sell a cool sewing machine cleaning tool package that fits on your home vac. The kit has adapters in it so that it attaches to the home vac and then converts so you can hook up little nozzles and brushes. It allows access to those tiny places in your machine. I bought it when I bought my Serger. Works great!

Interesting- I just happened to be in the bernina shop talking to my machine maintance man while he was cleaning a machine and he was using canned air. This is a very reputable bernina dealer and has been opened for 30 years. I wonder if there's a certain way you should use it? The one thing I noticed is that I didn't see him do anything for the $70 fee that I don't think I could do at home myself. But, out of the fear that I'm missed something really important that he was doing, I keep taking it there.

Every repairman I know advises against using canned air, especially on the newer computerized machines. This is because the canned air can force the lint further into the machine and computerized parts and create havoc.

My dealer told me to use Q-tips to clean the lint on my machines. Never to blow into the machine in any way because this blows the lint farther into the machine as well as blowing moisture into the machine, causing rust.
Then to use a sewing machine oil.

I have used canned air several times. I have not had anything go wrong with my Brother. What kinds of problems would the canned air create? I will remember the vacuum cleaner hint the next time my husband drags out the Rain-bow. It is so cumbersome we have a small Bissell that we use in between heavy-duty cleanings. The Rainbow would definitely pull every bit of dust out of the sewing machine in no time. Good idea!