How to Oil a Sewing Machine

*This post may include affiliate links, which allow me to make a small commission off your purchases. The money keeps the website afloat and is earned at no additional cost to you.

If your new to sewing or are only accustomed to using computerized machines, you may be unfamiliar with how to oil a sewing machine. This article is for those who fall into the above-mentioned categories, but also for the more seasoned sewing maven who would like to do basic maintenance on a machine at home.

When you’re learning how to oil a sewing machine, the first thing you want do is…

… use the right oil. It might sound like a no-brainer, but a lot of people are always asking questions about what oil to use in a sewing machine. Short answer: No, you cannot use cooking oil inside your sewing machine. You can of course use cooking oil in your sewing machine if you’d like to have a sewing circle filled with rats and roaches.

Only sewing machine oil belongs inside a sewing machine.

Hardware store oil (like WD-40) gums up gears and creates serious problems over time. Sewing machine oil is found in every craft store and Walmart. So, why substitute the oil when you don’t have to find an alternative?

The only half-way feasible substitute for standard oil is Tri-flow.

Some sewing machine repair experts use Tri-Flow . However, I haven’t used the oil in any of my machines because I’ve heard it could cause your machine to slow over time. Its best just to stick with standard sewing machine oil.

Aside from sewing machine oil, Tri-Flow grease or even Singer grease is great for gears…

Sewing machine gears do well with grease. However, it’s not harmful to use oil either. Most times, I go with oil because it’s cheaper to buy oil than to buy both oil and grease.

Don’t use sewing machine oil or grease on nylon gears!!!

Never get Singer grease or oil of any kind on your nylon gears because it will cause them to decay. Instead, use a silicon based product like Tri-flow grease . Of course, you don’t have to worry about this if you own an, all metal, Japanese class 15 sewing machine made before 1970.

Turn the hand wheel towards you.

Then, oil everything that rotates. This will ensure your machine will get oiled in all the areas that count.

Don’t forget your motor.

When I first learned how to oil a sewing machine, I had no idea that motors needed oil or grease too. On a pot motor, like the one pictured above, there is a wick inside. You will see the wick by peering down into the little holes. Put 3 to 4 drops of oil on the wick. This will help with the longevity of your motor. Soon as I dropped oil onto my motor, the machine went from sounding like an industrial to running 100% quiet.

If you’ve got tunnels leading to your motor, it takes grease instead. The grease tubes take a few squirts of Singer grease. However,99% of Japanese class 15 sewing machines don’t take grease in the motor. I just thought I’d mention it just in case you’ve got something different.

*Disclaimer: Thimble Book is not responsible for any accidents associated with dropping oil or grease into the motor. Proceed with caution. If in doubt, take the machine to a professional.

Last of all, don’t forget to oil your machine regular.

Oil your machine daily if you use it daily. Oil it on a weekly basis otherwise. As for the motor, it will only need oil when it’s time for the machine to be serviced, about once a year.