luvstoquilt301

I have a big Janome and can easy take off the bottom of the whole machine. That allows me to get into lots of places to remove lint. I also have the little vacuum attachment.

Sewnoma

I only clean what I can reach with the stitch plate off. I do take a pipe cleaner and swab lint out from pretty deep in the machine's workings, but I don't disassemble it any further than taking off the stitch plate and removing the bobbin casing.

I don't oil it, either. I have a Janome 6600 and my dealer said it only needs to be oiled once a year, which they do for me at my annual cleaning/check-up.

quiltstringz

PLEASE read your manual, some machines may not need oiling but others definitely do and it is very important to those that do.

maminstl

I clean the lint out every few bobbins, but will also, every few months, take off the needle plate, and unscrew the piece on the end of the machine. Then is when I use the canned air, so that I can blow it out. This is the first thing we did when I got my new machine and went to the free classes. Learned this on the Babylock Symphony, and do the same thing now that I have the Crescendo. My smaller Brother machine does not have a piece to take off the end, so I can't open it up. I'm looking for just the right little vacuum for that one. I sure don't want to drag out the big one.

Retiredandquilting

I have a Juki TL98Q - I clean inside around the bobbin after every project. I also take the cover plate off the feed dogs and clean that out after each project. An amazing amount of lint builds up in that area very quickly. I also use qtips to clean behind the tension area, and any other place I can get to with a qtip. I take better care of my sewing machine than any other appliance I own. It is probably the most expensive appliance that I own!

jmoore

I just picked my Janome up from being cleaned, evidently it was overdue and I had to have a new bobbin case put in... It is only 2 years old. Maybe I don't oil it enough?

paoberle

I use a small brush and occasionally use my vacuum cleaner. Periodically I take it in to my LQS and have it professionally serviced.

mengler

I pop the throat plate off and take out the whole bobbin mechanism. I don't dismantle the machine though. Sometime I take off the front pieces where the tension discs are and run a little unwaxed floss through those. That's about as adventurous as I get.

miriam

The old mechanical machines are easy to take about anything on one apart and clean. If you are spending a bunch of money on servicing, consider getting an old vintage machine just for straight sewing - cheaper than a service call.

gardnergal970

Canned air also causes vapor condensation which over time can cause problems with metal parts. I once heard a repair person say that even blowing into the machine with your mouth does the same thing and she has seen rust as a result. I take off the plate, take out the bobbin case and use a long handled paint brush to pick up any loose lint after each full bobbin used. I've found q-tips often push lint further in. My Janome has a center wick under the bobbin case which I put a drop of oil on if it begins to look dry. Like someone else said, this is the most expensive piece of machinery I own and I want it to last me a very long with minimum time in the repair shop.