I agree with you. Using sewing machine oil to clean is not what was recommended or anticipated. I've had to use dental tools to scrap dried *oil* off *gears* using kerosene, not to mention the dust and grime, and you can almost hear where the tingy noises come from when there is lack of lubrication or dust/lint built up. There is too much dust in the air, and lint by definition, and if you add a dog or cat to the mix (my dear kitties LOVE to get my attention by sitting right on top of the machines at times) with dander, then all you are doing is hastening the need for thorough cleaning. Hence once in a while I will use tri-flow and a hair dryer to get things moving followed up with kerosene to take all of it off, then sewing machine oil only as much as and where manufacturers recommended.