Keeping it running
Most machines that "stop working" are full of lint. We cover oil, brushes, screwdrivers and bulbs — and the important warning: several modern machines must never be oiled at all.
The standard clear lubricating oil. One reference on every Amazon store we checked — and one warning that matters more than the product.
Remove the needle plate and dust out the bobbin compartment with a brush. The most useful and most neglected upkeep.
It depends entirely on the model: many recent machines are greased for life and oiling clogs them. The manual gives the answer.
No: it drives the lint in instead of removing it. A dry brush is distinctly more effective.
Sewing machine oil alone. Household oils and penetrating sprays clog or attack the parts.
For domestic use, every few years is enough if the routine cleaning is done. A machine that labours or makes noise should go sooner.
Stop and dust it out first: a thread caught under the hook makes an alarming noise. If the noise persists, do not force it.
Always, before removing the plate or going near the hook. A simple, non-negotiable rule.
Removing the plate and dusting out the bobbin compartment with a brush after every project covers most faults. Never compressed air, which drives the lint in, and oil only if the manual prescribes it — many recent machines are greased for life.