Experienced sewists know just how important it is to keep your sewing machine clean and in tip-top shape, but new sewists and quilters may not realize the necessity of servicing your sewing machine until an expensive issue arises. If you’ve ever found your machine struggling due to a buildup of dust and other residue, you’re not alone. Learn how to prevent machine issues with our quick guide to sewing machine servicing.
We’ll help you answer basic sewing machine maintenance questions such as, “Can I clean my sewing machine at home?’” and “How often should I service my sewing machine and where can this maintenance be done?” We’ve also included a quick round-up of tips and tricks to help you keep your sewing machine in proper working order. A struggling sewing machine can cause major stress in your crafting life, so keep our guide on hand by hitting the “Favorite” button and continue reading to learn how often you should give your sewing machine some much needed upkeep.
How Often Does My Sewing Machine Need to Be Serviced?
Let me set the scene. My aunt, an avid sewist and quilter with decades of experience, stares at her sewing room in horror. She’s just finished crafting an adorable stuffed Australian Shepherd for my niece and her entire sewing space, including the nooks and crannies of her sewing machine, are covered in faux fur. “Never again,” she mutters. After trying to remove the soft faux fur from her machine herself, she surrenders her sewing machine to the professionals for some proper maintenance.
If you relate this scenario, then you’ve probably known what a pain it can be to remove buildup from your sewing machine. So how often should you service your sewing machine? The consensus is that you should be getting your sewing machine serviced at least once a year, although this depends on how often you sew or quilt. According to Brother USA, for home sewing machines, light to moderate usage (2 to 3 hours per day) should put your machine maintenance occurring at roughly every 500 hours of use. To those who use their sewing machines more frequently or often sew at higher speeds, “your product [sewing machine] should be cleaned and oiled every 300 hours of use.” While this can somewhat vary based on make and model, this is the standard for most home sewing machines.
What Does Servicing a Sewing Machine Entail?
What happens when you take your sewing machine to get serviced? Again, while this can vary, generally servicing your sewing machine includes deep cleaning your sewing machine by taking off the outer case and oiling your sewing machine parts. According to More Sewing UK, from their article “What Happens in a Sewing Machine Service?,” a sewing machine service also includes checking your machine’s tension and making sure the timing on your machine is correct. Essential functions for your machine are also checked during a service.
The cost and time for servicing a machine can vary depending on where this maintenance is performed, as well as how old or new your sewing machine is. In the US, a typical sewing machine service ranges from $75 to $100, but smaller repairs and maintenance can run about $50. More Sewing UK notes in their article that older machines can take a shorter amount of time to service, saying, “older machines tend to be easier to take apart, some modern machines are very complicated and it can take a long time just to take the case off!”.
Finding someone in your area to service your sewing machine can prove tricky, especially if you live in a rural area. If there is no local repair shop handy, you can sometimes find retail shops from your machine’s manufacturer (such as Singer) that offer maintenance and repair services.
Can I Clean My Sewing Machine at Home?
The short answer is yes, but that it’s not necessarily recommended. If you’re familiar with your machine and have experience with its inner workings, you can perform basic servicing needs at home. There are a lot of variables to consider, and even with routine maintenance at home, you should probably still take your machine in for professional servicing every couple of years. It’s also important to note that modern machines can be more difficult to service at home, so if you’re new to sewing, it’s best to leave machine servicing to the experts.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of sewing machine servicing, let’s go over a few quick tips and tricks for general home sewing machine maintenance.
- Keep a maintenance kit handy in your sewing room. You never know what might come up!
- Regularly oil your sewing machine. This helps keep the parts of your sewing machine lubricated and running smoothly.
- Don’t use canned air to clean your sewing machine! Gently brush your sewing machine parts, including the bobbin case.
- When your machine is not in use, cover it to prevent a buildup of dust.
- Make sure you’re regularly changing your needles.
- When in doubt, refer to your sewing machine manual.
How often do you service your sewing machine? What tips and tricks on sewing machine maintenance would you like to share with your fellow readers? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.