How to maintain your sewing machine in 5 simple steps
I have a confession to make… I'm not great at keeping up with maintenance in life. I'm really not the type to clean my workshop every night after finishing my workday. I tend to neglect my tools and machines a bit. I honestly don't know how long it's been since I had my scissors sharpened. And it took me years to realize it might not be a bad idea to oil my sewing machine every once in a while.
I know. Shame on me…
So, if you've never oiled your sewing machine, and you're feeling a little embarrassed right now, don't worry. I'm clearly not the one who's going to judge you.
But I can walk you through giving your sewing machine a well-deserved little cleanup. 😉 Because if you sew LARP costumes or cosplay, your machine deals with all kinds of materials (faux fur, wool, sequins, but also spray adhesive residue, dust, and weird bits of material that get lodged everywhere...). It builds up a much wider variety of grime than a machine that only sews cotton.
A little extra love isn't a luxury. 🤓
Here are 5 main steps for properly maintaining your sewing machine.
1 - General dusting
The first step is dusting. It might sound obvious, but it's still important.
Sure, if your workshop is minimal and your sewing machine goes back and forth between the closet and the kitchen table a lot, you probably won't get as much dust (or you'll more naturally think to dust it off). But if your machine always stays in the same spot, it might be quietly accumulating dust while your back is turned.
And then one day, you're working with white fabric and every bit of dust decides, in unison, to migrate over (and dig in deep) into your beautiful pristine fabric…
📌 Cosplay/LARP note: some less common fabrics produce more dust than classic cottons (or even leave behind unusual residue). Faux fur, brushed wools, but also certain sparkly fabrics. A quick clean after working with special fabrics really isn't a bad idea.
So, run a cloth over your whole machine, and give the nooks and crannies a quick vacuum. Regularly dusting the corners of your sewing machine is a good habit to get into.
2 - Cleaning around the bobbin
Fabric and thread create dust. A lot of dust. And it builds up in those dark little corners we tend to forget about. Sometimes, general dusting just isn't enough. In that case, a little cleaning around the bobbin case is in order.
Sewing machines aren't all the same. Depending on the model, the parts that come apart aren't the same either: in my case, I've got 3 pieces that come off easily. But you might only be able to remove the bobbin case.
Either way, remove whatever you can, and use a small brush to clean out every little corner. I'd recommend manually turning your machine so the parts move and you can reach everywhere.
This cleaning is worth doing after every project. Dust builds up easily in that dark little corner. Don't neglect it.
3 - Cleaning under the throat plate
Has it ever happened to you that your fabric gets caught in your machine, and when you finally pull it out, little clumps of dust (and even threads) in the most improbable colors come along with it?
(I really hope I'm not the only one this has happened to… 😅)
That's because there are some really hard-to-reach spots on a sewing machine. And it's easy to overlook them during a quick clean. For a proper cleaning, take the time to remove the plate under the presser foot to clean underneath. You'll get better access between the feed dogs.
On my machine, the plate comes off easily (I actually need to remove it to take out my bobbin case), but you might need a small screwdriver. Once the plate is off (I'd recommend removing the foot and needle for better access), make sure to clean thoroughly between the feed dogs and inside the hole.
You don't need to do this cleaning after every single project. But if you sew a lot (even more so if you work with a wide variety of materials for cosplay), it's a good idea to work it into a deep clean every 2-3 months.
4 - Oiling
(is that even a word? …feels kind of weird)
The spots that need oiling depend a bit on your machine's model. You have to be careful with oil, because too much is like too little (it can even be worse…).
A few important details:
📌 First off, don't go putting just anything into the mechanism, you need actual sewing machine oil (you can find it at any shop that sells or repairs sewing machines).
📌 If your machine's running smoothly and you don't have any issues, you probably don't even need to oil it.
📌 That said, if it starts jamming a bit or making weird noises, you can add a drop or two to the moving parts. Personally, I mainly oil behind the bobbin case. If the section above your presser foot opens up (mine doesn't), you'll have access to other spots that might need a bit of oil (but again, it varies from machine to machine, and you don't want to put oil where it doesn't belong).
When in doubt, you've got 3 options:
1 – check your instruction manual;
2 – ask a staff member at a shop that sells your machine's model;
3 – or ask a sewing machine repair technician.
Once you've added the oil, run your machine (but without any thread loaded). That'll let the oil spread properly. Then make sure there's no excess oil anywhere (you definitely don't want to stain your next project).
5 - The professional check-up
Every once in a while, it's a good idea to get your machine checked out at a specialty shop. They'll open up your machine to clean the spots you can't reach yourself. And make sure everything's good.
It's kind of like getting your car checked out now and then, or going to the dentist. You know, just to make sure everything's okay.
How often you need this kind of maintenance really depends on how much you use your machine and how old it is.
Mine's starting to get on in years. And I use it a lot. So I try to go once a year… or every 18 months max. But you don't have to do it as often as I do.
📌 Cosplay/LARP note: schedule your sewing machine maintenance during your slow season. Repair shops can have wait times, so you might not have access to your machine for several days. You wouldn't want to be without it right when you need to crank out a big batch of Viking tunics for your next LARP or con crunch, right?
So, do as I say, not as I do… and take care of your sewing machine.
If you take the time to do a good cleaning, share your experience with me. Did you find any surprising amounts of hidden dust? Post a story on Instagram (why not! it'll remind everyone that they need to clean their machines too) and tag me (@julie.chantal on Instagram)!
If you're planning on getting a new sewing machine soon, I also wrote a complete guide to choosing a sewing machine for cosplay and LARP. I also have an article on the 10 essential tools for your workshop if you want to round out your setup.
And if you want to stay in the loop on new products, promos, and new articles to help you with your creative projects, join The Harbour!
In the meantime,
Happy sewing! Happy crafting! 🤓✂🐙