Embroidery machine maintenance: cleaning, oiling and service

Brush the lint out of the bobbin area regularly, change the needle often, wipe the body with a lightly dampened cloth, store it somewhere dry, and oil it only if your manual says so. Brother's manuals for the PE800, PE900 and NQ1600E say the user must not oil the machine, while Baby Lock's Array multi-needle guide calls for a drop of oil on the hook every day. Take the machine to an authorized dealer when it shows its maintenance message, or when the handwheel stays stiff or the noise continues after you have cleared lint and thread from the bobbin area.

The routine for a home embroidery machine is short: brush out the lint, change the needle often, keep the machine clean and dry, and oil it only if your manual says so. That last part is where people go wrong. Several Brother home machines must not be oiled by you at all, while Baby Lock’s six-needle Array wants a drop of oil every day.

Brother, Baby Lock, OESD and Schmetz are named below because they publish clear manuals and guides. This site is not affiliated with any of them. Everything here follows what those documents say, so treat your own manual as the final word for your model.

Start with your manual

Your manual tells you whether to oil, where, and how often. Look for a chapter called “Care and maintenance” or “Appendix”. Brother’s manuals use the headings “Restrictions on oiling” and “Cleaning the race”.

Search the maker’s support site for your exact model name. Brother’s support site has a Manuals page for its models. The PE500’s page, for example, lists an operation manual and a quick reference guide as separate downloads. Baby Lock posts instruction and reference guides for its machines on its own site. If you bought used, see our used machine guide for what to check first.

Do you need to oil an embroidery machine?

Not always. The manuals disagree, because the machines are built differently.

Machine	What the manual says
Brother PE800, PE900, NQ1600E	The user must not oil the machine. It was made with the oil it needs, so periodic oiling is unnecessary.
Baby Lock Flare	Same wording as Brother. The user must not oil it.
Baby Lock Array (six needles)	Oil before first use. Then one drop on the hook each day before use, and one drop on the needle bars above the felt washer every 40 to 50 hours of embroidering.

Machines that say not to oil. Brother’s manuals say that if the handwheel is hard to turn or the machine makes an unusual noise, you should stop using it and contact an authorized dealer or service center. They also say not to put oil on the bobbin case.

Machines that say to oil. The Baby Lock Array guide says to use machine oil only, because other oils can damage the machine, and not to use too much. Too much oil can get onto fabric and thread, so wipe off any excess. It adds that if the thread breaks while embroidering or the hook gets noisy, you should oil the race hook. It also tells you to wear eye protection and gloves while oiling and to keep oil away from children. Our Array machine page has its specs.

The rule. Do not oil unless your manual says so. When it does, use only the spot, the oil type and the schedule it gives. If your manual is missing, ask a dealer for your model before you touch an oil bottle.

Clean lint out of the bobbin area

Brother says stitching suffers when lint and dust collect around the bobbin case, so the area should be cleaned regularly. The steps below follow the Brother PE800, PE900 and NQ1600E manuals, and the Baby Lock Flare guide matches them. Check yours for model details.

Raise the needle, switch the machine off and unplug it.
Remove the needle and the embroidery foot.
Remove the embroidery unit. If your manual lists a bobbin cover at this point (the PE900 and Flare manuals do), remove that too.
Slide off the needle plate cover. Some models hold it with a screw, which you take out with the supplied screwdriver.
Pull out the bobbin case.
Use the cleaning brush or a vacuum cleaner to remove lint and dust from the race, the bobbin thread sensor and the area around them. Do not oil the bobbin case.
Put the bobbin case back with the marks on the case and the machine lined up as your manual shows.
Slide the needle plate cover back on.

The manuals name a brush and a vacuum. None of the ones this guide draws on mention compressed air, so stick with what your manual lists.

Check for scratches while you are there. Brother says never to use a bobbin case that is scratched, since the thread can tangle and the needle can break. Its troubleshooting table also lists scratches on the bobbin case, the needle plate opening and the embroidery foot among causes of thread and needle breaks. The fix is a new part or a visit to the dealer. If breaks keep happening, our thread breaking guide walks through the other causes.

If thread has tangled into a ball under the plate (see bird nesting), Brother’s troubleshooting table says to cut the tangle and remove it from the race. Then clean the area as above.

Extra cleaning on a multi-needle machine

A multi-needle machine has more parts to keep clean. The Baby Lock Array guide asks you to:

Clean the bobbin case every time you change the bobbin. Slide a piece of paper about the thickness of a business card under the tension-adjusting spring to clear thread wax and dust, then brush the inside of the case.
Clean around the needle plate once a month, because lint near the cutting knives can stop the thread being cut properly.
Brush the upper thread guides and tension unit from time to time, since lint there can break the thread.
Keep the ventilation slots free of lint so the motor does not overheat.

If you are weighing this extra upkeep against a bigger machine, see single-needle vs multi-needle machines.

Change the needle

OESD calls changing the needle the first thing to try when thread breaks, shreds or stitch quality drops. Advice on how often differs a little by source:

Source	When to change
OESD	About every 5 hours of sewing time for a chromium (non-titanium) needle, about 25 hours for a titanium one
Schmetz	About every 8 hours of sewing, or at the start of each new project
Brother PE800 manual	After three full bobbins of thread, or when stitches skip

Schmetz lists the signs of a worn needle as frayed or broken thread, skipped or uneven stitches, puckering, damaged fabric and a popping sound. Its simple test is to push the needle through an old pair of sheer tights. If it snags the threads, stop using it.

Brother also shows how to check a needle is straight. Lay its flat side on a flat surface and look at the gap between needle and surface. If the gap is uneven, the needle is bent and must not be used.

To fit a new one, follow Brother’s order:

Raise the needle and cover the needle plate hole with fabric or paper, so a dropped needle cannot fall into the machine.
Loosen the clamp screw and take the old needle out.
Push the new needle up with its flat side toward the back until it stops.
Tighten the clamp screw without forcing it.

Brother’s PE800 manual says to use a 75/11 home sewing machine needle for embroidery, and the PE900 manual suggests trying a 90/14 if stitching is poor on heavy fabric. Our needle guide covers sizes, points and coatings.

Keep the outside clean

Unplug the machine first. For the screen, every manual used here says to wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Brother’s PE800 and NQ1600E manuals add that you should not use organic solvents, detergent or a damp cloth on it.

For the body, wring a soft cloth almost dry, wipe, then go over it with a dry cloth. The PE800 and NQ1600E manuals say to wet the cloth with a little neutral detergent. The PE900 manual and both Baby Lock guides say lukewarm water.

Skip harsh cleaners. The PE800 and NQ1600E manuals say benzene, thinner and scouring powder can damage the case. The PE900 manual and both Baby Lock guides warn against cleansers and solvents such as thinner, petroleum ether or alcohol, which can peel or scratch the finish.

Store the machine properly

Brother’s manuals and the Baby Lock Flare guide warn against storing a machine where it can be damaged by condensation and rust. Their list of places to avoid:

Very hot or very cold rooms
Spots with big temperature swings
High humidity or steam
Near a flame, heater or air conditioner
Outdoors or in direct sunlight
Very dusty or oily rooms

Brother also says to switch the machine on and use it every so often, because leaving it unused for a long time can reduce its efficiency. The Baby Lock Array guide gives a shorter list: avoid direct sunlight, high humidity and hot objects such as heaters. It also says to set the machine up where the temperature stays between 40 and 104 °F (5 and 40 °C).

When to get a service

Owner care covers brushing, needles and wiping. Anything beyond that is for a technician. Take it to an authorized dealer or service center when:

A maintenance message appears. Brother and Baby Lock say to arrange a regular maintenance check at that point. You can dismiss the message, but it comes back several times until the service is done. Brother’s settings screen also shows a service count as a reminder. The manuals give no calendar interval, so ask your dealer what they recommend.
The handwheel is stiff or the machine makes an unusual noise. Stop using it. Brother’s troubleshooting table lists thread caught in the race or bobbin case as one cause of a high-pitched sound or a sluggish handwheel, so unplug the machine and clear the bobbin area as described above. If nothing is caught there, contact the dealer.
Problems continue after the basics. Try a new needle, rethreading, a clean bobbin area and the troubleshooting table in your manual. If the fault stays, Brother says to see a dealer.
A part is damaged. Brother says damaged parts such as the sewing light or needle threader hook should be handled by an authorized dealer.

Service prices vary, so ask for a quote before you hand the machine over. If you are choosing a machine, it helps to know what the maker says about upkeep. Our Brother PE800 page has its specs, and our Brother machine guide covers daily use.

Frequently asked questions

Do embroidery machines need oil?

It depends on the model, so read the manual. Brother's manuals for the PE800, PE900 and NQ1600E say the machine must not be oiled by the user because it left the factory with the oil it needs. Baby Lock's Array, a six-needle machine, says to put one drop of oil on the hook each day before use.

What oil should I use on an embroidery machine?

Only the oil, and only the spots, your manual names. The Baby Lock Array guide says to use machine oil only, because other types can damage the machine, and to wipe off any excess so fabric and thread are not stained. For Brother home models that say not to oil, use none.

How often should I clean the bobbin area?

Brother says to clean the race regularly but gives no fixed interval. The Baby Lock Array guide says to clean the bobbin case every time you change the bobbin and to clean around the needle plate once a month. A quick brush at each bobbin change is a sensible habit.

How often should I change an embroidery needle?

OESD says every 5 hours of sewing time for a chromium (non-titanium) needle and about every 25 hours for a titanium one. Schmetz says about every 8 hours, or at the start of each project, and Brother's PE800 manual says after three full bobbins of thread. Change it at once if stitches skip or the needle is bent.

Where do I find my embroidery machine manual?

Search the maker's support site for your exact model name. Brother's support site has a Manuals page for its models with the operation manual to download, and Baby Lock posts instruction and reference guides for its machines on its own site.