Pipe Cleaner use ?? who knew !
 

Was a guest at my friends Guild meeting last week. When we signed in, we were all given 4 brightly colored pipe cleaners. The use of them to be revealed later. Well! Guess what? They were to be used to clean out your bobbin case and surrounding LINT areas. fold in half and go for those tiny spaces. You'll be amazed at the gunk you'll find.. And they are reusable ! I can't wait to get home to clean my big machine cause I KNOW there is at least a bolt of lint in places I haven't been able to get that brush in to.!! We are RV-ing central coast of California and won't be home till April.... *sigh* lint will have to wait... clean "ON" !!

you can have pipe cleaners in an RV, right? I read this somewhere before and forgot about it, thanks for reminding me.

What an interesting fun game to be done at the guild. Never thought of using it on my Bernina. Thanks for the post.

My sister gave me some not too long ago. They work great!!

Best if you use them folded over as the ends have bits of fluff that can rub off into your machine. You could probably stop that with a tiny drop on nail polish - just thought of that! They work great to get into areas you can't see.

Great idea! Kind of like a mini feather duster for small places. Thanks for the info.

thanks for the hint

I use those in conjunction with q-tips. When I take off the throat plate, the q-tip really grabs the fuzz before I open the bobbin area.

My grandmother used pipe cleaners on her machine when I was growing up. My grandfather smoked a pipe so they were always a clean ones next to his smoking chair.

What a brilliant idea!! I will get some tomorrow and clean my machine. I am sure I will find enough lint to stuff a pillow, even though I try and clean the bobbin area often.

Great idea.

Well I learned my new thing for the day. Thanks.

I am going to try this one. Learn something new everyday.

I use the ones that have "wavy" fuzz (in craft section at Joann's, Michael's, Hobby Lobby etc.) The long "hair" on certain parts helps with the lint removal. Bought one bag for around a dollar and shared with my entire quilt group.

My husband smokes a pipe and has pipe cleaners with a tiny metal barb in them and they are wonderful for cleaning all the machines and getting in tight areas and pulls out the fuzzies!!!

I use Qtips they work great too! The best part I always have them in house... !

Great idea. Make sure you unplug your machine first.

I use an small old artist type paint brush. It reaches into lots of areas too pick up lint. Diane C

I've been using pipe cleaners for years. I bought a pack of large ones, used for kids craft. I'm still on the first pack I ever bought over 20 years ago.

Guess I am odd-woman-out. I bought the craft type pipe cleaners and do not like them at all, too flimsy. I much prefer the real pipe cleaners as they are more rigid and get into those hard to reach areas.

Yep, quality counts in even the small things.

I use my pipe cleaners alot on my machines ..I quit using Air Spray. Pipe cleaners, Qtips are my machine's best friends for cleaning ..

have used pipe cleaners for years

I have also "discovered" that those itty bitty "proxa" brushes for cleaning the spaces between you teeth, work really well for getting into little spaces to clean.

I have been lucky. I was introduced to pipe cleaners a couple of years ago. Use them after every project is finished.

We are planning our RV trips for this year and looking forward to it!

Yes I teach that in my beginning sewing machine class and my machine care class

Another 'cleaning tool', dental floss - doesn't matter whether it's flavored or not..:)

We were given a straw with a piece of pipe cleaner folded and stuck in the end. Great for getting into tight places!

I use a Q-tip with a little machine oil on it to clean my machine. When black thread or black fabric is used, the machine should be cleaned well because the black contains carbon which could eventually damage your machine.

Great idea have to get real pipe cleaners soon.

I use a mascara brush. It, too, works great.

Mascara brushes are awesome for reaching some places the pipe cleaners do not!! I use pipe cleaners, mascara brushes, q-tips, paint brushes or whatever else it mite take me to get into the grimy, linty places on machines. DH offered "canned air" but I declined even though it's great for a quick dusting for unexpected company.

I am cheap. I reuse mascara brushes several times. I just clean them with Dawn detergent and air dry after each use.