One of the best ways to reduce jams and other malfunctions when sewing is to perform regular basic sewing machine maintenance.
This will keep your machine working for years.
Before I get into details, remember, every machine is different.
Always check your machine manual for any user maintenance you have to do on it.
Cleaning
Often your manual will just recommend cleaning specific parts of the machine.
Many computerized machines don’t have any user oil spots. But my old Kenmore does (as does my serger). More on that later.
Lint builds up in your machine. Especially if you don’t clean it. And Especially if you sew linty fabrics.
Some fabrics are obvious lint shedders. Like fur. Fur will get everywhere, for months. But there are some fabrics that are surprisingly linty. Many of the nylon spandex swimsuit type fabrics that I sew shed a bunch of lint. It’s rather unexpected.
What is the best way to clean your sewing machine? I’m glad you asked.
Usually your machine will come with a brush. And they have some special lint snagging bristle. If you don’t have one, try finding one for sale.
Get in the habit of cleaning lint out of your bobbin area every time you change or refill the bobbin.
Brush the lint from back to front so you can sweep it out of the machine and not push it back in further.
I used to be a proponent of the cans of air for quick lint removal, but I started to realize if I didn’t precisely aim the air stream, I could actually shove lint into the machine where I can’t reach it with a brush.
And unless you want to start taking apart your machine, which I don’t recommend… unless a few things line up for you, the best way to get this part of your machine cleaned out is to take it to a professional. And that can get expensive.
I like to adhere to the “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. If you can keep your machine clean, likely you won’t have to take it in as frequently, and you won’t suffer problems from having a machine stuffed full of lint.
When you could Service your own machine
I’m a total DIY advocate. And I would never outright say “don’t service your own machine”. But I will give these three bullet points to consider if you are trying to decide whether you should pull out the screwdriver or not.
You are comfortable with mechanical and electrical machines
This first one is subjective. Ideally, you could loosen a few screws, take a few extra covers off, and clean out the excess lint.
But honestly, if you aren’t really comfortable doing that, you probably shouldn’t. Sewing machines are relatively precise machines. If you get in there and bump off the timing of the bobbin shuttle or hook or you move the needle arm assembly out of time, your machine won’t make a stitch.
I got a hold of my folk’s old Singer. It’s 30 years old, way out of warranty and was broken. And my folks shipped it to me, but in the process it also got a little out of time (or maybe that happened when it broke.) But because I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain, I downloaded the service manuals and got to work.
Service manuals are different from the operator manuals. They are meant for service technicians. They include all sorts of lingo and instructions for basically repairing and rebuilding the machine to make it work again. They are not for the average sewist.
Your machine is out of warranty
This should go without saying, but if your machine is still under warranty, opening it up will likely void that warranty. Just don’t do it. Take it in to a professional.
If you, like me, are faced with decades old machines and there’s no risk of voiding a warranty, well, who am I to say what you do with your property?
You can afford to buy a new one
I mentioned above that I took apart an old machine I got from my folks. It was over 30, and very much out of warranty. And it was broken. So, if I broke it more, I wasn’t really out anything.
Plus, I already have a working sewing machine. And a working backup to my primary machine. Essentially, this was my tertiary machine. So, If it never worked again, I wasn’t out anything.
But… would I do this on my primary machine?
I can’t answer that question for you. Even if I’m completely comfortable taking apart my sewing machine (and I’m not 100% comfortable doing that really) doesn’t mean you should do it unless you are 100% comfortable doing it.
Too much can go wrong. So if you just want a quick cleanout. Maybe it’s worth it but if you mess something up, are you capable of fixing it? Can you afford to replace it?
Before you make this decision, you might want to call and get a quote for service. It’s possible that it would be so much you would prefer to take your chances with your own clean out first. But only you can make that decision.
Oiling
Mechanical machines (and some sergers) may have some spots you should periodically oil. Check your manual.
It’s good to keep your machine lubed so it can keep working for a long time.
Many modern machines don’t have points that the owner should oil.
So at some point, the machine will likely need to be serviced by a professional.
So, check your manual and the manufacturer for the recommended service frequency. Sometimes they go by hours of use.
Oil doesn’t last for ever. Neither does grease. It gums up or dries out.
I would consider getting your machine serviced if the hand wheel is hard to turn, or if the machine makes strange sounds like clicking, knocking or banging when you are using it.
Conclusion
As I have said before, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So the more you can do to keep your machine happy, the better.
Your machine is an investment. It should last a long time. But it will only do that with proper care.