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Shannon Fraser Designs

Spreading quilty joy one stitch at a time!

Sunday Studio Maintenance: How to Clean Your Sewing Machine & Iron

November 12, 2017 by Shannon 15 Comments

Sunday Studio Maintenance - see the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing

When was the last time you cleaned your sewing space? Are you aware of how to clean your sewing machine and iron?

When you own a sewing machine, there is inevitably some maintenance that is required to keep her purring along. 

Sewing machine cleaning sounds like such a daunting task. A total sewjo killer, right? 

Well, it doesn’t have to be. 

Just like you probably have a weekly beauty routine, the same applies to your sewing studio. A little weekly cleaning is the ticket to keeping your machine in tip-top stitching shape. And, once you make it part of your routine, it won’t feel like such sewjo killer anymore! 

This is why I’m excited to share how to clean your sewing machine and iron!

Sunday Studio Maintenance - see the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running and extend their life. #studio #sewing

This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. 

Establish a sewing machine and iron cleaning routine

All it entails is setting aside one day a week to check in with your beloved Bertha, Speed Demon, Daisy – or whatever moniker you’ve lovingly assigned your sewing machine 😉 

And while you’re at it, why not clean your other essential piece of equipment – your iron? You know the metal piece you can’t get through a single quilting session without? Let’s show her some love and care too! If you own a Rowenta, it should be pretty easy. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - see the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. Overhead shot of my Rowenta steam iron #studio #sewing
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Here’s how I approach my studio maintenance

The day I’ve selected is Sunday. It can be any day of the week, but for me, Sundays work perfectly. And the task is normally accompanied by a yummy hot cup of coffee, sounds good already, right?! 

Ok, let’s get to how to clean your sewing machine and iron. 

Start with your iron

Start by setting your iron to the self-cleaning settings. If you own a Rowenta, you’ll want to turn the dial ALL the way to this setting. And click over to this button on the steam setting. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - see the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. Start by setting your iron to the self-cleaning settings. #studio #sewing

While she’s heating away, turn your attention to your machine. 

Gather your essential cleaning tools

Get your essential cleaning tools ready and lined up so you’re not getting up a gazillion times throughout. I’m speaking from experience here! And nothing kills a mood quicker than having to hunt everything down. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - see the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. Here are the notions and tools I use to get the job done. #studio #sewing

Here are my top sewing machine cleaning essentials that I can’t live without:

  • Sewing Machine Oil
  • Alba-5 Lubricant – Sewing Machine Oil Spray
  • Lint Brush – one should have come with your machine, otherwise, you can find this nifty one here
  • Pipe Cleaners – you can either go for soft or hard bristles (mine are hard). They’ve even got these fancy ones.
  • Paper Towel or washable cloth
  • Screwdriver
  • Sewing Machine Needle
  • Bobbin

Open your sewing machine

With the iron heating away, get your screwdriver and start by removing the needle, the presser foot, and then the sewing plate. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - see the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. Start by opening up your sewing machine to access your bobbin area. #studio #sewing

Very delicately start gathering the lint with the small cleaning brush. Take your time here. You don’t want to push the lint further into your sewing machine. After every swipe, clean the brush on the paper towel you have at the ready.  

Sunday Studio Maintenance - use your brush to carefully remove the lint from your sewing machine. See the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing

For the tougher-to-reach nooks and crannies, my quilty friend Tiffany of Village Bound Quilts had the nifty idea to use a pipe cleaner. It works like a charm! The hubz picked up these pipe cleaners with a slight grip to them and they are perfect at catching ALL the fuzz. I’m sure a regular one works just fine too. 

You’ll be amazed at how much lint you’ll have accumulated on your paper towel once you’ve thoroughly passed the brush and pipe cleaner over the entire inner workings of your sewing machine. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - for the tougher to reach areas, use a pipe cleaner to remove the lint. See the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing

Don’t forget to also give the needle shaft a good wipe with the brush too. It’s amazing how the fuzz just gets everywhere! 

You’ll want to give your presser foot and bobbin a good cleaning too. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - lint cleaned out from my sewing machine. See the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing

Reassemble your sewing machine

Now, with all the fuzz gone, you can start putting things back together.

Start with putting the sewing plate back on, making sure to screw everything back in nicely and securely. Then, I take the opportunity to change my needle, before I put my presser foot back in place. 

Oil your sewing machine

Once I have my bobbin back in, I then spray one shot of the sewing machine oil from the spray can right at the top of the bobbin case. This was a recommendation from the technician who sold me my Juki. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - I use this oil in my bobbin area to keep it nicely oiled and running smoothly. See the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing

I’ve been using this since day one and I find it super easy to keep that area oiled. It can be a little finicky (and messy, I might add) trying to use the typical sewing machine oil bottle and this spray works like a charm. Since I use my machine regularly, I give it one spray at the beginning of each session. 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - add sewing machine oil to all your oil spots on your machine. See the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing

Next, you’ll want to add a drop or two of the sewing machine oil in all the little oiling holes. For my Juki, I’ve got 3 spots on top and 2 in the throat area. Refer to your manual for your specific oiling spots. A drop or two in each should do the trick, but this will all depend on your make and model and the frequency you use your machine. 


Turn your attention back to your iron

By this point, it’s been about 10 minutes, which is exactly how long the Rowenta takes for the first self-cleaning step.

I then turn everything off, unplug her and head to my sink. To show you just how much gunk accumulates with just a week’s use, I held the Rowenta over a bowl to accumulate the water that pours out while holding down the self-clean button. Do this for about a minute, and be amazed at the yucky water and particles that come out! 

Sunday Studio Maintenance - debris from my iron after using the self-cleaning mode. See the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing

Once you’ve done that for a minute, refill your water reservoir back up.

Head back to your ironing board, this time with an old hand towel. Put the dials back to the self-cleaning setting and start passing the iron over the towel. You’ll see some additional debris and brown-stained water collect on the towel. Once you’ve passed it a few times, you can leave it to continue heating for another 10 minutes, and then you’re done.

15-minutes is all it takes!

You’ve now got a completely de-fuzzed and well-oiled sewing machine and an iron ready to press any wrinkle you throw at it without any worry of brown stains appearing.

And all it took was about 15 minutes of active time.

How easy is that?!

Sunday Studio Maintenance - a view of my sewing room after my weekly cleaning. See the step-by-step guide on how I clean my sewing machine and iron on a weekly basis to keep them running in tip-top shape. #studio #sewing
Pictured above is the Pink Lemonade quilt – pattern available in the shop.

Now that you know how easy and painless it can be to clean your sewing machine and iron, be sure to show your tools some TLC. After all, you’ve invested a good chunk of money in your tools, so why not spend a little time to keep them running smoothly for years to come?

I would love to hear what your studio maintenance routine is! Share your tips and tricks in the comments below 😊

Happy quilting!

xo

Shannon


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Comments

  1. Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl says

    November 12, 2017 at 10:48 pm

    These are great tips, Shannon. I tend to dust and oil my machine after I change out a bobbin, so that is usually 1-2 times a week instead of on any particular day. I live in the desert, so the oiling is helpful where I am but I would probably re-consider and go to once a week if I were in an environment that was humid. I like to also wipe down my desk space once a week using a tiny scrap of batting to collect up the inevitable lint that piles up.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      November 12, 2017 at 11:12 pm

      Such great tips, Yvonne! I am constantly dusting my sewing table and vacuuming my sewing area. It's amazing how much lint, dust and fluff seems to accumulate during the week! I like the idea of dusting and oiling after a bobbin change – that's super easy to remember too! Thanks for sharing 😊

      Reply
  2. Kelly O. says

    November 16, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    this is a great post! I think I need to consider this for my own studio!

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      November 16, 2017 at 2:30 pm

      Oh, I love that, Kelly! Once you get into a routine, it will feel amazing and your tools will thank you for it 😉

      Let me know how it goes!!

      Reply
  3. Brooke says

    November 16, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    Oh awesome tips, Shannon! Just love your Juki set up – what a happy room.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      November 16, 2017 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you, Brooke!! Hope the tips come in handy for you and your Juki!!

      My sewing room is definitely my little happy place 😉

      Reply
  4. Unknown says

    November 17, 2017 at 3:58 am

    Aren't the pipe cleaners great?! And good tips on the iron too – I only use a hot, dry iron: do you steam regularly? I wonder how this might make cleaning my Rowenta any different (or not).. hmm… anyways, great info! And gorgeous sewing space 🙂

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      November 23, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      They really are!! Such an amazing tip – and I think of you every time I use them!! I do steam ALL the time. I've tried working without, as I've heard many quilters say it's better, but it just never seems to get my wrinkles out like steam does.

      Reply
  5. Unknown says

    February 26, 2018 at 1:36 pm

    Here are some of the leading brands and models in the Sewcare today. Read further and find out which sewing machines for beginners best suits you

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      February 27, 2018 at 1:06 pm

      Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  6. Abir says

    June 2, 2018 at 11:47 am

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  7. George says

    June 7, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  8. mtom says

    June 20, 2018 at 7:13 am

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  9. Unknown says

    January 14, 2019 at 3:24 am

    Oh awesome tips, Shannon! Just love your Juki set up – what a happy room.

    Sew For

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      January 27, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      Thank you! Thrilled you liked the tips 🙂

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Shannon. A modern quilt pattern designer based in Montreal. My quilting journey started by stumbling upon a half square triangle tutorial and I've been hooked since. I'm now spreading that quilty joy to you! Read More…

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