Creative articles about sewing

Cleaning your sewing machine properly – to make sewing even more fun!

Cleaning is part of sewing – it’s like a wellness treatment for your sewing machine

When we are busy sewing, it’s easy to forget that we should occasionally give our machines a break by treating them to some well-deserved care. Therefore my blog post today is called “Wellness for your sewing machine”.

At the moment, many people are sewing for all they are worth. A little care is sure to do your sewing machine good! Sometimes you may be bothered by an irregular thread tension or improperly working thread cutter. This is often a sign that it’s time to clean your machine again.

How and what do I clean my machine with and how can I remove thread remnants from the thread catcher so that it works perfectly again? The following care tips should help you get your sewing machine purring again:

Tip 1: Make cleaning and oiling a habit

Your machine is affected each and every time you use it. Fabric, yarn and dust leave their traces on the machine, including on the inside. The more you sew, the more residues there are. These have a negative effect on thread tension and on the sewing results. Especially when embroidering, or if the machine is running quickly and for a long time, cleaning should be carried out more often.

I am often asked how frequently you should clean and oil your machine. The operating manual say: “regularly”. But what does that mean? We all love our sewing machines and want them to sew for as long as possible and to do it reliably and well. So I do it either after a project or before starting the next new project. If my project continues for weeks, I will of course also clean and oil during that time. It also depends on what fabric you are sewing: velvet and polar fleece fabrics produce more lint than cotton fabrics. This means that your machine will need cleaning more often.

You can find video tutorials for each model series on the BERNINA website or on our YouTube channel. For example, this video shows you how to clean and oil the BERNINA 435 and 475: 

On our newer machines, you can also display a cleaning tutorial on the machine’s screen. Go to “Tutorial, Troubleshooting” and “Cleaning the machine”:

Tip 2: Check for thread remnants

Every time you clean, check if there are thread remnants anywhere in the hook or the hook race. I always – always! – take a look at the hook when I am undoing tangled threads inside (see my latest blog post) or when the gears icon appears on the machine’s screen.

First I remove the bobbin case and the hook. You can see how to do this in the machine tutorial.

Thread remnants can get tangled on the two silver-colored hook driver cams. I carefully remove these with tweezers. Please do not use any other sharp or pointed objects such as needles or scissors, as this could damage the hook race.

Tip 3: A microfiber cloth works wonders

Our instructional video shows the hook area being cleaned with the brush that is supplied with our machines, but I use a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Oil residues and lint form sticky residues that are not easy to remove with a brush.

I also wipe the front and back of the hook with the microfiber cloth:

The black, folded out ring-shaped hook race cover also gets massaged with the cleaning cloth as part of the wellness treatment:

However, I use the brush to clean under the stitch plate. You can see this here in the video: 

Tip 4: A different way to insert the hook

I often read or hear that it is not as easy to insert the BERNINA hook again correctly on our new machines because you can’t see what you’re doing with your hand. I am happy to be able to show you a method for inserting the BERNINA hook that allows you to get a better view:

 

It takes some practice, but the method is easy and safe once you get the hang of it.

It is important that the left tip of the hook is lined up with the left tip of the hook race ring. In the video I have made for you, I use my fingertip to point out the two places. When you close the hook race ring, the hook is then automatically positioned correctly because it is magnetic.

Tip 5: Don’t forget to clean the thread catcher!

On machines with an automatic thread cutter, it is very important to also regularly clean the thread catcher to ensure that the thread cutter can operate properly. Thread remnants or lint can result in the thread no longer being cut correctly or not being cut at all when the thread cutter is activated.

This is how to clean it:

First, I remove the presser foot, needle and stitch plate and lower the feed dog.

Then I go to Setup and select “Machine settings, Maintenance/update” and “Clean thread catcher”:

A step-by-step guide will appear, that you can follow.

I have to admit that I have sometimes “forgotten” to remove the needle. I clicked the link in step 2 and quickly regretted it because of course the needle was in the way. So make sure you stick to the sequence!

It is also important that you first click on the link and only then press the thread cutter button on the machine. Otherwise nothing happens. The video tutorial shows you how to do it:

Tip 6: Do not use compressed air sprays!

You have probably heard or seen that there are so-called compressed air sprays for cleaning sewing machines. Please do not use them!

If you use compressed air, you will blow thread remnants and lint into areas of the machine that are not accessible to you. Sooner or later you will have to visit a mechanic, who will be amazed at the amount of dirt when he takes the machine apart. There are pictures of such “compressed air damaged” machines online that I prefer not to show here.

A microfiber cloth and brush are sufficient. Of course, if the machine is very dirty, I can also take it to my specialist dealer, where, as just mentioned, it will be deep cleaned – even in the areas that we cannot get to ourselves.

Those are all my tips for “cleaning your sewing machine”. Remember, cleaning is only half the battle. Regular oiling is also important. In my next blog post, I will tell you how often you should oil your machine, where exactly and what kind of oil you should use. If you follow my tips and regularly treat your sewing machine to a bit of TLC, I guarantee it will give you great pleasure for a long time.

See you soon,

Mirjam

 

 

 

 

Related content you may be interested in

Comments of this post

23 Responses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Required fields are marked *

  • James Walter EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    These are such great tips for maintaining my sewing machine! This was a helpful reminder that regular cleaning and oiling is important to keep it running smoothly. Using a microfiber cloth is an excellent idea – I’ll be sure to switch to that. Following routines like what you outlined will no doubt help any machine last for many more projects to come. Proper preventative care of sewing machines makes such a difference. 

    • Mirjam EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Walter, thank you so much for the commendation!
      And I like your informative website very much! 🙂

      Best regards
      Mirjam

  • Victoria Webster EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    No matter what I do, I can’t get the hook back in. I want my 1230 back

    • ramonawirth EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Victoria,
      I am sorry, but with that little information, I can only guess what the issue is. When I oil the machine after taking out the bobbin case and hook, I pay attention to the white circle sticker on the inside of the machine. That sticker marks the hole in the hook. I align the hole of the hook with the sticker and sometimes have to wiggle a bit until the hook falls in place thanks to the magnetism. Then I clap up the black frame, insert the bobbin case and am done.
      If that description does not help, please either add a photo of your bobbin area in a comment so I can try to see what the issue is, or bring your machine to a dealer so they can asisst you.

  • Daily Sewing Machine EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Great post! I completely agree that cleaning your sewing machine is an important part of the sewing process. Your analogy of it being like a wellness treatment is spot on! Regular cleaning not only keeps the machine running smoothly, but it also helps prolong its lifespan. Your tips on how to clean the machine and maintain it are clear and easy to follow, and I appreciate the emphasis on the importance of regular maintenance. Thanks for sharing this valuable information!

    • Mirjam EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Thank you so much for your comment!

      It makes me happy when I realize that my blog articles are appreciated!

      Best regards
      Mirjam

    • ramonawirth EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Aisha,

      I am sad to hear your machine is not working, but without a description of the problem, I cannot help. A lot of issues also requires testing settings directly on the machine – Is there a BERNINA dealer near you that you can ask for support?

      Kind regards, Ramona

  • Mary Jones EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Hi, I was checking the reviews and details of the best sewing machine by Bernina. And, I decided to choose Bernina 535 which’s not my choice only. I check various guides for the best Bernina sewing machine like (BusinessInsider- Source 1), (SewingMachinePrice.com- Source 2) and a lot of other sources too. Bernina 535 was recommended by many experts but I got a really terrible experience after buying this model, it often gets jammed and makes creepy noises.

    I also feel trouble in cleaning it but still I do it twice a month but still problems presist. I do not know whether the problem is in my cleaning process or in the whole machine model.

  • Sussi Hansen EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    I have just cleaned my thread catcher and whenever I go to “move thread catcher back” I get the error notice, and I can’t use my machine at all. I oil frequently, and clean it often. Any ideas what I can do other than take it to a shop?

  • Teresa Bray EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Thank you very much.   I still have my Bernina 830E which I got new in 1982 this still works well but as you can appreciate dles not have the wonderful features I am enjoying on my B570

    Cheers Teresa Bray

  • Doris Steele EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    I have a Bernina 770QE and have been getting conflicting answers regarding when to get my machine serviced by a licensed technician.  I regularly clean and oil my machine and have too much money invested not to have proper servicing done.  Is there a certain stitch count before it’s required?

    • Mirjam von Thile EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Doris,

      yes, an information will appear after 3.000.000 stitches to do a service and after 200.000 stitches to lubricate the machine.

      Best regards

      Mirjam

  • Annelie Bothma EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    I Would like it if it was printers friendly.. I stil not have this embroidery software, but I orint the lessons out. I put money away to buy me this software. O have the creative drawings anf not so happy at all. All my machines iis Bernina

    • Philipp Köstner EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Annelie,

       

      thank you for reaching out. Can you please describe in more detail what you are referring to concerning the requested printer friendlyness? The blog articles should generally be printer friendly.

       

      Kind regards, Philipp from the BERNINA marketing team

  • Anne Elvin EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    I have not used my sewing machine for so many years as my husband had a very long illness and then there was Lockdown. How grateful I am to have real instructions how to oil my machine. It is the first newsletter that I have just received. Just so very helpful! I had my machine when I was fifty! Best present I ever received! It is still working perfectly. You can just rely on Bernina sewing machines! I love it! Being thirty years older now I really had forgotten how to do it properly! Many thanks for the help!

  • Glynis Reynolds EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    I’ve just watched the video about oiling my sewing machine, and it said not to oil in where the hole marked with red is under the stitch plate, yet I clearly remember being told to put oil in there when on the Bernina Training Day. Which is right?

    Also have Bernina forgotten that they made the 750QE as there is no videos or many (if any) mentions of this machine.

    • Mirjam von Thile EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Glynis,

      Yes, for the first generations of the 7 Series machines (B 710/750/780) filling the reservoir was recommended. However, customer feedback and tests showed that filling this reservoir can lead to a soiled lower thread during sewing and embroidery. Therefore, please oil your machine as described in the blog articles above. 

       

      The B 750 QE has been replaced by the B 770 QE in our model portfolio. But all the videos are still there: 
      https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL99AAA19E193FE8FE
       
      Kind regards
      Mirjam

  • Ellen Foster-Taylor EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Having. Leaned and maintained my machine regularly, having all electric wires checked, my machine  does not work.  I have asked where I can get my machine seen and serviced in the East of England, I have not had the decency of a reply.

    all I get is PR stuff from Bernina and adverts for it. May I now expect a proper response to my enquiry.   Thank you

Dear BERNINA Blog readers,

if you want to publish pictures via the comment function, please log in to the blog first. Click here to sign in.

You haven't registered for the BERNINA blog yet? Click here to create your free account.

Thank you very much

Your BERNINA Blog Team