How to store a sewing machine in 5 easy steps?

Having a sewing machine means spending plenty of dollars. Therefore, you must take great care, but, commonly, you may need to learn how to store a sewing machine simply at home. 

I love my sewing machine. That is why I store it when I don’t use it or need a break from sewing. I hold my sewing machine in a designated area to take it out again and ensure that all parts are in good condition.

All my dear readers! Don’t worry. In this blog, I will explain how to properly store your sewing machine at home or in your room in 5 simple steps. 

A step-by-step guide to storing a sewing machine

Step #1: Clean your sewing machine

The first and foremost step is to clean your sewing machine carefully and thoroughly.

You can clean your sewing machine by following these steps:

a) Remove the machine’s parts

Remove all the basic parts, such as the throat plate, needles, presser foot, and spool pin. Give a special focus to the throat plate as thread fibres, dust, dirt, etc., may have accumulated in large amounts. Also, remove the upper cover, so the internal parts are visible to clean them easily. Then carefully clean all the parts you have removed. 

b) Using the brush

Now, you need to clean all the dirt and dust with the help of a lint brush. There may be dust trapped in the corners, so you can use a wire to remove it, but be careful not to scratch the machine’s finish. Brush all body parts, mainly to crevices and cracks, if any.

c) Use an air pump

The next step is to use the air blower after completing the above mentioned step. Use it gently and slowly to remove or blow away all the dust captured, even from the crannies or narrow cracks. 

Pro Tip: Avoid blasting air, as this will force dirt into the machine’s internal parts, causing the parts to jam and causing more harm than good.

d) Dry your sewing machine

To complete the cleaning process for sewing machine storage work, all internal parts must be gently dried. Putting it in a room with the appropriate temperature for half an hour will do the trick. It is also possible to use a hair dryer, but I do not recommend using one because it may cause moisture.

Step #2 – Oil your sewing machine

After thoroughly cleaning and drying your sewing machine, apply oil to its various parts. The most important thing is to select a proper sewing machine oil, as hard oil will damage the internal components.

The sewing machine requires oil for almost all of its moving parts. It is, however, vital that you give the appropriate amount of oil, as if you give too much oil, the pieces will begin losing oil, resulting in severe damage.

After applying oil to all the moving parts, you should rotate the handwheel anticlockwise and clockwise to check its smoothness. 

When sewing oil accumulates excessively on your machine, use a piece of fabric such as muslin to absorb the excess oil. 

Step #3: Reassemble sewing machine parts

After cleaning and oiling, you must install all the sewing machine parts. You should then plug in the sewing machine and sew a piece of fabric for one to two minutes to test it. If all goes well, then you have done everything correctly. 

Step #4: Cover the sewing machine

You should have a hardcover to prevent your sewing machine from being knocked, scratched, and contaminated with dust. However, if you do not have or do not have the budget to buy one, you can cover it with any soft towel or cloth.

It is essential to cover your sewing machine to prevent dust from entering the internal components. Keep your machine covered even if you plan to store it in the closet. In particular, if you do not use your device very often, it is important to develop this habit.

Step #5– Dry place is a perfect place for storing

After you have covered the sewing machine, the next step is to keep it in a dry place where moisture cannot enter; otherwise, it will damage the machine’s body, making it rusty. The best places are the wardrobe, closet, cupboard, or somewhere aside in the room. 

However, ensure that you don’t store it in the basement garage because there will be moisture which may ruin the sewing machine.

Do you need to store a sewing machine when not in use?

If you have taken a break from sewing while going somewhere with your family, the best practice is to store your sewing machine properly. 

Because storing a sewing machine has the following benefits: 

1. When a sewing machine is stored, it will stay in good condition as it is protected from scratches and environmental changes. 
2. A properly stored sewing machine will also be protected from dust and moisture, thereby preventing its internal parts from rusting and resulting in a jam-free and long-lasting machine.
3. It will become long-lasting.

Don’t store unless you don’t know these points

1. Keep the machine away from heat: The first factor is to keep your sewing machine away from heat or sunlight. The heat does not directly damage your sewing machine, but it can cause damage to the upper colour by melting it. 
2. Avoid storing in the garage: You may consider storing your sewing machine in your garage because it is extra space. I recommend not keeping your sewing machine in a garage, but you are fine if it is climate controlled without moisture. If the garage is the only place, protect your machine with hard plastic and canvas covers because they don’t let moisture in.
3. Keep it clean: The most important thing you should do before storing your best sewing machine is to keep it clean. Through the changing weather, regular cleaning of both the inside and outside of the machine will help keep everything running smoothly.
4. Replace rusty parts: The parts of a sewing machine used for quite some time may become rusted. Mainly, the needle and presser foot is exposed to the environment. Therefore, you should change your needle frequently because it can become rusty and bent over time.
5. Create your own climate-controlled space: Sometimes, it is more likely that you cannot have a specific temperature in your rooms. Then, in this case, you need to maintain a controlled climate by closing the windows, doors, and closet doors so that air doesn’t enter into the sewing machine cover; if it happens, there are more chances that it will attract rust due to moisture. 

So this is it. This is all that you need to do. But wait. The above process mainly focuses on electrical, regular, or advanced sewing machines. 

Extra but extremely valuable information

What if you have a handheld or treadle sewing machine? Then don’t worry. 

Handheld sewing machine

Handheld sewing machines are the smallest and are generally used for small sewing portions of cuffs or other small items. They are less than one foot in size and easy to store. A handheld machine comes with a cover that the manufacturer provides. 

To store it, follow these steps;

1. Clean it carefully. 
2. Remove all the threads. 
3. Remove the bobbin and needle. 
4. Place it on the cover that you get when you purchase it. 
5. Now it is done, store it in the cupboard or your closet.

Treadle sewing machine

1. To store the treadle sewing machine, vintage sewing machine, or your old Kenmore one, you need to follow the above six steps I explained in extreme detail. 
2. But here is one thing: most treadle sewing machines have an extensive wooden base that you must keep elsewhere too. So the first step is to separate the base from the sewing machine using a screwdriver. 
3. Clean the treadle sewing machine base, then detect a sewing machine from it so you can store it appropriately. 
4. For best practice, store the sewing machine in the closet or wardrobe and the base of the treadle sewing machine in the garage, which is bulky and will take up a lot of space.

Wrapping things up

Keeping your sewing machine looking fresh and long-lasting requires a lot of care. For this reason, it needs to be appropriately stored, and I have provided you with 5 simple steps you need to follow, why you should keep it, a few tips, etc. so that you don’t make any mistakes. 

I hope the above information is helpful, and after reading the article, I am confident you will be able to store your sewing machine like a professional.

Please make the most of the article by taking some time to read it.

THE END

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