cleaning your machine
 

How often do you clean your machine? Do you have a video or link showing how to maintain your machine? I have a janome.

I clean my regular sewing machine after every project. If I'm working on anything larger than a twin size project, I clean it half way through. I clean my long arm after every project and I oil it after every 3.

I clean my machines after every other bobbin refill.

I am a fanatic about a clean machine be it my Bernina 640, one of our vintage machines or our long arm. I clean every bobbin change so I don't forget. Less lint and dirt = less wear.

Same here. But if I'm quilting I clean after each bobbin. I use a few Q-tips but
lately I found the use of pipe cleaners very helpful. Not sure what model you have
but on mine I remove the bobbin case and clean under and around...in other words
anywhere I see lint. Here's a tutorial on how to clean your sewing machine.
Do not oil your sewing machine if you are not supposed to. I put just one drop
of oil about once a year in the oil wick. That's it.

http://esostarikaknitfo.blogspot.ca/...chine-101.html

Be careful and don't mistake the wick under the bobbin for lint -- that can be painful. I put oil in the wick more frequently.

I have a 7700 so I open the door on the left side and clean out all the lint around the takeup lever, etc. I also clean out the area around the bobbin -- sometimes I find that my serger tweezers work well to get the hard to reach lint.

EasyPeezy's link is good -- I don't like using q-tips because of the lint they release. I use pipe cleaners and the brush that came with the machine. Don't put any oil on plastic parts.

craftsy.com has a free class sewing machine 911 that is helpful

Probably not enough, but I am getting better. Do get my Bernina served yearly. Did the same for my 1973 Bernina 830 and it paid off. She is now my back up machine. ;)

Judy in Phx, AZ

Every bobbin change.

If using a linty thread, I clean with every bobbin change. If the thread isn't linty, then generally every other bobbin change.

Every bobbin change.

Jan in VA

Thanks Dolphyngyrl, I headed over to Craftsy and signed up for the sewing machine 911.

Rarely. Rarely change a needle. I have a dinky Brother mechanical which is the most forgiving machine I have ever used.

Thanks EasyPeezy, I headed over to check out this blog as well. I actually did this once on my machine (My feed dogs would not draw the fabric anymore.), mostly, trial by error. I guess I'm lucky, I didn't do anything bad to my machine. (Not a computerized machine.)

Thanks for the link and the heads up on Craftsy.

you should have an instruction book that came with your janome, if not then you could probably find one on line that fits your machine.

Agree on the wick... ask me how I know. :/

That video was nasty. It's a wonder it could sew a stitch. I clean after every 2 to 3 bobbin fills. I have extra long q-tips and can really get in there and clean it. I also have a vacuum attachment I believe I got through Nancy's Notion and it fits on my vacuum and it can suck out what you can't reach.

At the end of each project for sure!

I have a lot of machines and I clean the ones I sew on the most twice a year. I take off the housing and oil, even the no oil ones. I clean with alcohol. The ones I don't use that often I clean once a year. I paid a repairman to show me how to remove the housing and clean my machines. That has saved me a lot of money over the years. I always waited for the warranty to run out first before doing my own cleaning.

I try to clean the bobbin casing on each change. Sometimes when quilting and the quilt on top I admit I do leave a good clean. Cotton bud around define spot and off I go.

Me too. It's a good habit to get into.

I have bought quite a few machines with extremely clogged up bobbin areas. Makes me wonder if they knew how to clean it? Did the machine not sew right with it clogged so they got rid of it?

I clean after 1 or 2 bobbins; more often if sewing on fleece or Minkie. I clean the bobbin area and also remove the plate that covers the feed dogs and clean there as well. I use Q-tips with a drop of machine oil on them. I store my little plastic oil bottle in a zip-lock bag along with a dozen or so Q-tips, then put all that in a second plastic bag. If there is any oil leakage it gets absorbed by the cotton swabs. I don't have any lint problems as long as I put oil on the swabs.

I have a Bernina 640E ---do you remove the throat plate and open the side like it shows?

Good to keep up with the maintenance of your machine and clean out at least the bobbin area after every change. I try to do that, and then every 2 bobbins, will do a very thorough cleaning, taking out the bobbin case, cleaning everywhere I can get into, and oiling.

Cleaning varies with the machine I use. One Kenmore will "growl" at me when it gets dirty. Sewing surely makes lots of fuzzies. I use a vacuum, too. Warning: Don't ever "blow" dust out with a vacuum. It only sends it to areas where it causes more trouble, particularly with computerized machines. I think oiling is the life of mechanical machines.

Keeping my machine clean and well oiled cuts down on costly repair bills. I do a quick brush out after every bobbin and oil the hook. Major cleaning about every other week.

a link in case you need to know how to clean the bobbin area: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...y-t194930.html

It depends on the project and the thread. If I'm using my cutwork needles it'll get done either after or during depending on how much cutwork the needles are doing. I just ordered a minature vac attachment set to help clean. I was told never to blow into the machine because you can actually make the lint lodge in places and not come out.

I thought I was doing good by cleaning after every project. "seams" I need to step up a notch.

I had gotten a new machine and loved sewing with it (embroidery machine). So my reliable Singer sat for 8 years. When I went to sew on it, it sounded like a disel truck. When I took it in to have it serviced I was told that machines have to be used. You cannot let one sit. Just like a car in storage, start it up, sew a little. Makes sense. After that and now reading what has been written, I am sure I will be more deligent in my cleaning. I do use the vacuum attachments and love those, they work fantastic. Have had them for years and years.

I use a long handled mini brush to clean the bobbin area and areas deeper inside the machine. It looks like a mascara brush, but with a long handle. Ask your gynecologist for one at your yearly checkup! My doctor laughed and gave me several to use and to give away. It goes without saying that these are clean, unused brushes.
Some makeup counters in department stores have disposable mascara brushes; ask the clerk for a clean one, but the handle will be short.

I love my mascara brushes. When I have one to discard, I wash it well instead and it goes to the sewing room.

See Jenny's video on Missouri Star Quilting. I believe she has a Janome: http://quiltingtutorials.com/browse-...ning-quilters/

I clean mine often as I see lint...I never go longer than a year to have it serviced professionally....