Wow my Janome dealer told me to NEVER use canned air! I think it may depend on whether you have a mechanical or computerized machine.

I screwed up my wireless keyboard with air, so I surely will never use it on one of my sewing machines.

I was told never use canned air to clean any electronic device. It will blow dust and lint into the moving parts of your machine and because it's really a chemical it will freeze what ever it's sprayed on. Also not good for parts.

Chotilde has an attachment that goes on vacuum that works great.
Here's the link:
http://www.clotilde.com/list.html?cr...hment&x=11&y=9


You definitely don't want to blow lint deeper into your machine.

I, too, was told by the dealer (Bernina) to use compressed air. However, I also spray in the direction from the plate towards the bobbin access door, so it should be pushing lint out, not in towards other parts of the machine.

We just had a sewing machine shop owner speak at our guild meeting today. I was using the canned air, but he said not to. It just blows all that fuzz & lint deeper into your machine. He advised using your vacuum and the little brush you get with your machine.

I prefer to vacuum for the reasons already stated. I don't want to blow lint deep into my machine.

The electrical engineer in the house (I guess I should listen to him because he gets big bucks for doing this) tells me compressed air shouldn't be an issue for the electronic parts. It is used in industry all the time. Heaven knows I've cleaned electronic circuit boards with far worse. When I can't find a can in my hubby's electronic stuff I use the air compressor in the garage (works great on the serger mess).

I suspect that the reason many places tell people not to use the compressed air on machines is economic (theirs). The more lint clogged sensors coming in for a $100 repair the better. My dealer/repair place uses it all the time.

For my machine, I remove the needle plate and use it to blow from behind the feed dogs out the front of the bobbin casing (I have a front loader). Top loading machines might be different.

Is anyone as confused as I am? Do or not do. Yikes! I will do what my dealer says to honor warranty.

I agree with doing what you need to to keep your warranty. Unfortunately, my machine is out of warranty so I'm not as worried. However, I don't let hubby monkey around in it...yet. I'll wait until I'm told it can't be repaired or the repair is going to be the same cost as a new machine. Then I'm cracking that puppy open and really see how it works.