Sewing Machine Maintenance: Cleaning Your Serger
A serger, or overlock machine, can be a great addition to your sewing arsenal. They’re not at all essential, obviously, but if you’re planning to open an Etsy shop manufacturing children’s clothing, for example, you’ll find that a serger will make your life super way easier. Cleaning one out isn’t tough, but it does need to be done frequently–take a look at the filth in the video to see what happens when good sergers get dirty:
| Tags: sewing machine maintenance, sewing machines 8 comments »
June 27th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I’m so pleased you’re running this series. I’ve been meaning to look up for ages how to clean my sewing machine and serger, so thank you. I still can’t say I’m looking forward to it but it really needs doing and your videos will make it so much easier.
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Deborah Reply:
June 29th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
It’s nowhere near as painful as you might think–I never “want” to do it, but I’m always glad I did!
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June 27th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
I really appreciate this series. I’ve brushed my serger regularly but haven’t removed the throat plate. Thanks for the instruction…very helpful! Do you clean your iron on a regular basis?
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Deborah Reply:
June 29th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
I hardly ever clean my iron–my new(er) Rowenta gave instructions to clean once a month (!) but I’ve not done that. I use a LOT of steam, though, so I tell myself that makes up for it?? I might need to do some research–I smell another cleaning series!
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June 28th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Thanks so much these are super helpful. I have never. Cleaned my server like that . It obviously needs it.
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Deborah Reply:
June 29th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I’ll see if I can dig up the photo I took of my serger the very first time I ever cleaned it–which I think was about two years after I got it, used. It was so vile–there was an actual creature made of lint inside the machine. It had arms. It tried to eat me. I’ll post pics to Flickr if I can track them down!
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July 4th, 2012 at 8:44 pm
This series has come a little too late for me. I should have cleaned my machines before we moved interstate. Now my serger is jammed (who knows what was floating around inside!). At least insurance will cover it, but I’m still annoyed with myself.
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January 6th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Thanks so much for the great video. You explain the whole process so well and you continue to narrate and don’t leave us with dead air. Sergers can be very intimidating and I am still learning to use mine and I’m very happy to learn how to clean it and keep it running for many years. Thanks again for a great video.
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