There are a lot of information on the web about how to maintain your home sewing machine between your scheduled service for your beloved home sewing machine.
You want to check your machine for lint and threads in the bobbin area. If you sew a lot or sew with material that shed a lot, you'll want to check for lint more often.
If you have a top load bobbin, remove the bobbin case per your owner's manual direction. Remove any large clumps of thread or lint gently with long handled tweezers, a dry cotton swab, a dry paint brush, or a fluffy pipe cleaner.
Be careful around any electronics, if you machine has them in the bobbin area. Pull out as much lint as you can safely remove.
If you have a keyboard mini-vac you can vacuum out lint and thread. Only use the vacuum setting, not the blower setting (if you mini-vac has that function).
What not to do:
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Do not blow any air into the bobbin area of your sewing machine, either from a Mini-Vac or canned air. This can impact the lint inside your machine that can cause more issues and damage circuit boards on newer machines. Additionally, most canned air has moisture in the propellant (liquefied refrigerant) the moisture can be cold enough to damage sensitive electronics.
- Do Not use WD-40 inside your sewing machine, even if a well meaning mechanic or handyman tells you it's ok.
- Just because WD-40 works around the house and under the hood of a car, doesn't mean it should be used on your beloved home sewing machine.
Absolutely, do not spray the inside of your machine with Lithium Grease.
See note above about well meaning mechanics and Handyman.
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Lithium grease will harden over time and takes extra effort to clean out of all the small delicate areas in a sewing machine.
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Also note, if someone has previously lubricated your machine with lithium grease, expect an additional charge to have it professional cleaned.
Oiling your machine between service appointments:
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Check your sewing machine oil. If it is cloudy, golden or yellow clear, it's time to get some new sewing machine oil.
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Check your bottle of sewing machine oil. If your sewing machine oil is cloudy, golden or yellow, it has impurities, and can gum up your sewing machine parts. Sewing machine oil should be clear or blue if you are using Bluecreeper SMO (sewing machine oil) which is blue.
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Place the vintage bottle of sewing machine oil on your display shelf as a keepsake, and use either clear sewing machine oil like Lilly White or Bluecreeper SMO.
For Modern machines, most only need a drop of sewing machine oil on the bobbin case. Check your owners manual for your machine.
For Vintage machine, they need to be oiled more often, some oiling ports need oil with every use, or depending your usage. Check the owners manual for your machine.
