The Basics of Sewing Machine Maintenance | Bernina Sew and Quilt

Your sewing machine is a big investment. Make sure that you take care of your machine and provide regular cleaning and maintenance so that you get the most out of it as it ages!

Proper Care

Taking proper care of your sewing machine can do a lot to extend its longevity. Sewing experts recommend using good needles and thread to keep your machine in top shape!

This means avoiding linty, low-quality threads and threads with waxy coatings, and changing your needles often—about every 10 hours of active stitching (about four bobbins worth) and at the start of each machine project.

If you have any questions about the quality of your materials, ask someone on staff when you’re shopping, and do your shopping at a trusted vendor, as sometimes product labels can be misleading. We’d also recommend that you keep your machine powered off and covered when it’s not in use to avoid any unnecessary dust, dirt, or wear and tear.

Cleaning Your Machine

Even when you’re fastidious about using low-lint threads and properly storing your sewing machine when it’s not in use, you’ll still need to clean your machine once in a while to keep it dirt- and dust-free.

Make sure you have your sewing machine manual handy for cleaning so that you know how to properly open and access all of the parts of your machine! You’ll also need a dry brush, tweezers, a pipe cleaner, a dry cleaning cloth and a screwdriver to open your machine.

To clean your machine, first switch it off and unplug it. Then remove all removable parts of the machine—such as the bobbin, needle and throat plate—so that you can clean these normally covered areas.

With your dry brush and cloth, gently brush and wipe away lint and dust. You can use a large needle or scraps of paper to pry small pieces of lint from harder to reach spaces and your tweezers to remove lint and loose threads. Once your machine is lint- and dust-free, it may be a good time to oil your machine!

Oiling Your Machine

Oil your machine only as recommended by your user manual. You’ll need to apply only the small amount of sewing machine oil that is recommended, and you should have a gentle hand and a clean cloth ready to catch and wipe away any excess oil.

This video is a great visual guide for cleaning and oiling your BERNINA machine!

Is your BERNINA sewing machine in need of repair or basic maintenance? Drop by our Sew N Quilt Studio in Chattanooga or call (423) 521-7232 to speak to one of our experts about all of your maintenance needs!