Sewing machine maintenance may not be the most fun part of owning a sewing machine, but it’s necessary to keep cranking out those cute DIY projects! Here at EverSewn, we recognize that you need cleaning your machine to be as easy and painless as possible, so here are some simple steps you can take to keep your sewing machine in tip-top shape and ready for the next time Pinterest inspiration hits.

Our goal is to offer you guidance to keep your machine clean, but please always refer to your specific machine’s instruction manual (we know you’ve got that filed away somewhere but click the button below to access EverSewn sewing machine manuals…you know, just in case.) A word of caution - DO NOT, we repeat, DO NOT use pressurized air to clean your sewing machine. It only pushes that pesky lint and thread deeper into your machine, causing all kinds of issues down the road.

Let’s start with the tools you’ll need:

• Tweezers (the longer and thinner the better - EverSewn has a great Tweezer Tool Pack!)

• A soft brush (a clean paint or makeup brush will work great)

• A lambswool tool or any lint free, gentle duster

We recommend keeping these items close at hand and giving your machine a cleaning after every project!

STEP 1: Turn Off Sewing Machine

To start the cleaning process, make sure your machine is off and unplugged. Remove the needle plate and lift out any larger pieces of lint or thread with the tweezers.

STEP 2: Clean Sewing Machine Surfaces

Use your dusting tool and gently swipe back and forth over the exposed surface. This should remove smaller particles.

The image below is a machine after binding one quilt and the reason we want to show you how to give your sewing machine some love! Some of this lint will be removed in the step above, but dusting will ensure you get your machine sparkling clean. Make sure to shake off your dusting tool after each use!

STEP 3 (last step - we told you this was easy!): Clean Bobbin Casing

Remove the bobbin case, take out the bobbin, and use your soft brush to clean out any lint. Lastly, use your brush to clean the area where the bobbin casing goes.

That’s it! You’re done! High five for taking care of your sewing machine! Now go create and tag us in your crafty posts. We can’t wait to see what you make!