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How to Clean Vintage Sewing Machines

The mechanical sewing machine was one of the most influential inventions of the industrial age. Collecting vintage sewing machines allows you not only to treasure manufacturing methods and garment production in days past, but to appreciate the antiquated and intricate structure and design of these charming machines. If you're lucky enough to have a vintage sewing machine, you'll want to clean it carefully to restore it to its former glory so that it looks its absolute best for display in your home.

Things You'll Need

Sheet of newspaper
Pencil and paper or camera
Brass or silver polish
Soft toothbrush
3 to 5 lint-free cloths
Handheld vacuum with hose attachment
Kerosene
Sewing machine oil
Car polish

Instructions

- 1
  Lay several newspapers over your work surface. Draw a rough sketch of the machine with all the metal parts attached. It doesn't matter if you can't draw; this is just to help you remember where each part goes when you're done. Alternatively you can take a digital photo.
- 2
  Dip an extra soft paint brush in brass cream cleanser or silver cream cleanser and rub a thin layer of the cleanser over each silver or brass part. Allow it to sit for five minutes. Wipe it off with a damp cloth.
- 3
  Remove the lint from the bobbin case and from under the machine. Attach a small hose to a hand-held vacuum to suck out all the dust and debris from inside the machine.
- 4
  Soak a soft cloth in kerosene. Lift the faceplate and wipe down under this area with the cloth. Locate the metal feed teeth and wipe them down with this rag. Wipe off the excess kerosene.
- 5
  Oil the machine parts that actually touch one another inside the machine with sewing machine oil. Blot off the excess with a lint-free cloth.
- 6
  Dab a lint-free cloth in car polish and rub it in to the surface metal of the machine, giving it a proper polish. Buff with a dry rag.

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