HOW TO CEAN AND MAINTAIN YOUR SERGER
How to clean and maintain your serger. Using a serger as a companion to your sewing machine will elevate the finished look of any project while making it faster and easier to create. As with any mechanical device, the life of the serger and the quality of its performance will be greatly extended with regular care and maintenance. The good news is that caring for sera is relatively easy. It only takes a few minutes to get them working well.
Follow these steps to clean and oil your serger to make sure it’s ready for your next sewing project. Clean the serger regularly. Some fabrics create a lot of fluff and fluff; these require more frequent cleaning of the serger. Others are relatively lint-free, which means the serger can go longer between cleanings. It’s also a good idea to have it professionally cleaned and inspected by a trained technician every two years.
HOW TO CLEAN AND OIL YOUR SERGER
How to clean and maintain your serger. This is our last lesson in Learn Serge! If you are new, be sure to check out the home page where there are tons of great tutorials to teach you more about your serger. Each lesson builds on the previous lesson so it’s worth checking out all the great tips and tricks. First you need to remove the side compartment. It’s called a looper cover and turntable. Mine had three screws. Take a moment to see how dirty it was to play.
Then get the smallest attachment on the suction hose and clean as many large pieces of fabric as possible. I couldn’t find a needle attachment for the vacuum so I had to use a larger hose. It happened a bit, but honestly, the more you can clean up with this step, the less of a mess it will be later.
Remove the needles, presser foot and stitch plate. To remove the needle plate I had to remove the knives as well, so it depends on how your serger is laid out. The goal of this step is to get under the stitch plate (there is a small area where fabric/hair collects that also needs to be cleaned. Use a small brush or pipe cleaner to remove any additional fabric/hair that may be caught with these items.
Use a spray duster for gentle cleaning. This will get everywhere if you have large pieces, so it’s important to clean as much as possible before this step. But honestly, this was my favorite part. The shower dust made my serger feel really clean! I was able to get into every little crack, every hole and even the outside of the machine on the front and back where the fabric fibers collect as well.
BASIC TIPS FOR SERGER MACHINE MAINTENANCE
How to clean and maintain your serger. Every machine is different and the steps are for general information only and will not match your machine exactly. Before performing any maintenance, please read the operator’s manual for instructions specific to your machine. Some of these tools may be part of the serger, while others are common household items: lint brush, oil, tweezers, pipe cleaners, soft cloth, user manual, needle holder if possible, small screwdriver, and vacuum cleaner. For deep cleaning, pull the thread from the machine and remove the presser foot and needles. Some models may also allow the throat to be removed. Open both serger doors to access the loopers
To clean the underside of the serger, use a soft brush such as a paintbrush, brush, or makeup brush. Remove all lint from loops and feeder area. A stiff bristled brush is also useful in certain areas to push lint out of the machine. If necessary, pull the long threads out of the machine with tweezers. Use a pipe cleaner for hard-to-reach places. The rigidity of the cleaner combined with its flexibility allows it to reach places too small for hands.
Use a small vacuum cleaner or vacuum cleaner to quickly remove lint. Canned compressed air is usually not recommended because it blows the fibers into the machine, not out of it. This can potentially build up inside the serger and cause problems with moving parts. After thoroughly cleaning the looper area of the serger, oil the necessary areas with the type of oil recommended by the serger manufacturer. Thread the tension discs using embroidery thread or Parle cotton. This will clean the area of lint and remove any bits of thread caught in the tension wheels. Here, build-up is particularly problematic, as it can affect the accuracy of the tension setting and disrupt the formation of the stitch.
HOW TO CLEAN, OIL AND MAINTENANCE YOUR SERGER MACHINE
How to clean and maintain your serger. Of course, how often you clean and oil your sewing machine will depend on the fabric you usually sew with and how much you actually sew. If you use the machine more than occasionally or sew fabrics that shed, such as velvet or corduroy, you should clean the machine at least once a month. However, if you hear any kind of rattling or see a build-up of lint, you should clean and lubricate the machine immediately. To get started, follow these steps to get your machine in tip-top shape: Removing the throat is essential as this is where most of the fabric fibers and dust particles accumulate.
- To remove the throat plate, you must:
- Unplug the sewing machine,
- Read the user manual to learn how to remove the attachment,
- Either remove the board or pry it out with a screwdriver.
Dust and dirt will accumulate in your machines, which are the most difficult to access. For this reason, you should never use compressed air from a can as it will push dirt deep down and out of reach. It is best to use a flexible brush to clean the sewing machine.
- If possible, remove the bobbin case,
- Clean the entire coil housing,
- Brush between the feed dogs and thoroughly remove all dust.
A special type of oil made for sewing machines is specially designed for the sensitive parts of the machine; prevents wear caused by friction. Frequent lubrication will ensure trouble-free operation of your machine for many years, so it is a very important part of your machine maintenance that you should not forget.
- Determine where the moving parts touch by turning the wheel back and forth,
- Put some oil where the parts meet and rub,
- Rotate the wheel back and forth to rub the oil into the components.
Your machine should be as good as new at this point. All you have to do is remove the excess oil, clean and rebuild the machine so that it is ready for use.
- To prepare your machine for your next sewing project, you should:
- Use a piece of cheap or scrap material to absorb excess grease,
- Use a dust cloth to wipe the entire machine,
- Reinstall the neck by sliding it back or using a screwdriver,
- Clean the area near the thread path,
- Plug the machine in and test it on a piece of inexpensive fabric such as muslin,
When not in use, remember to cover the machine to prevent the accumulation of dirt, grime and dust. Cleaning and oiling your sewing machine are quick and easy tasks, but if you maintain them, your machine will perform well over time. That’s why these routine jobs are definitely worth the effort.
TOP TIPS FOR SERGER MACHINE MAINTENANCE
How to clean and maintain your serger. Not every serger requires lubrication, so consult your owner’s manual or your local dealer if you have one. The serger manual will tell you where and how often to apply the oil. A standard rule of thumb is that machines that require oiling should be oiled after eight to ten hours of serging, or whenever you hear metal scraping sounds. A bent, blunt, or cut needle will cause skipped stitches, thread breaks, and more. Bent needles can even cause your serger to lose timing.
Just like with a sewing machine, you want to change the needle often. Now you have a happy serger Take care of your machine and it will take care of you! With all the research, it is best to clean and oil your serger every 15 working hours. Whether it’s your profession or a part-time hobby, serger machines are the backbone of most of our consumer goods. With this in mind, the design of the machine has evolved from the classic tabletop version for grandma.
As you sew more projects, dust and particles will eventually accumulate inside your machine. You can’t help it; you are a busy bee! Here are some sewing machine maintenance tips we’d like to share with you to help keep your machine in top condition. Investing in excellent needles and thread is essential for everyday machine use. They produce higher performance standards and the results of your project can increase the craftsmanship.
Another factor to consider is the type of materials you use with the machine, which leads to build-up, dust, lint and threads. There are several tools that can help you clean up and reduce this common build-up problem. Prepare with these tips and tools before cleaning. Your machine may look good on the surface, but it’s important to have it checked by a professional technician from time to time.
Seek their help if you are dealing with a problem or malfunction. If you try to repair it yourself, you risk damaging the device. To increase and maintain performance, the internal parts of the machine also need lubrication. Manufacturers will have experts specialized in specific training from brand to brand, in addition to working experience with versatile machine models over the years. For occasional fine-tuning, it is worth seeking out an expert.
CONCLUSION
How to clean and maintain your serger. The most important thing you can do to keep your serger running smoothly is to maintain your serger, including cleaning and oiling. Removing lint and bits of fabric after each use is essential to the longevity of your serger. Lint builds up inside the serger because the greased areas act like magnets that draw the line in. These fibers then absorb the oil and dry the moving parts.