<p>Most of the time you don't need a cleaning manual dedicated to the specific machine. What you need is a basic understanding what cleaning and oiling is intended to achieve and what the mechanical parts of the machine have to do with it.</p>
<p>Sewing machines, especially the older models without electronics, are masterpieces of mechanics. The rotation of one single motor is transferred to the base of the machine and the needle, and additionally translated into different needle positions that create sewing patterns. The top thread is transported into the bobbin case by the needle and must slide smoothly around the bobbin. All these movements should me as smooth and unimpeded as possible for the machine to work well.</p>
<p>What could impede these delicate movements is: lint, dust and old oil.</p>
<p>To clean the machine you gradually remove all removable covers and parts to access the mechanical innards. How to do this depends on your individual machine. Keep screws and small parts in a saucer or small bowl so you won't lose any. Open and clean one section after another, then put all removable parts back in and close the cover before opening the next part to not confuse any parts. The main sections to open and clean are:</p>
<ul>
<li>The base, including the bobbin case, feed dog and needle plate itself (most often opened from the side you sit in front of)</li>
<li>The sewing arm (most often opened from the top)</li>
<li>The needle holder and mechanics just above it, including the lamp (sometimes opened from the side, sometimes from the top)</li>
</ul>
<p>Hopefully the instruction manual contains instructions on how to open the machine. I was unable to find any material explaining how to open and maintain a Singer 3002.</p>
<p>The cleaning itself is simple: Carefully remove all dust and lint using either a soft cloth, dry brush or a gentle vacuum. The cloth can be dry or slightly dampened with clean water. Detergents or other cleaning products are not required.</p>
<p>Usually it's sufficient to wipe oiled parts off to remove the outer layer of oil that caught dust and lint particles. Use the hand wheel to slowly move the parts and wipe any old oil away that you couldn't access before. Then add a drop of fresh oil and you're basically done. You should only use special machine oil or mineral oil for sewing machines, because it stays liquid for a very long time. Organic oils become rancid and viscous over time and are not suited for sewing machines.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T08:00:06.120Z
Thank you very much for this detailed answer, it was very helpful!
Holly
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-08T13:53:14.927Z
2020-07-08T17:41:16.673Z
2020-07-08T17:41:16.673Z
Elmy
<p>I'll add some minor detail to Allison's answer.
Unplug the sewing machine! in case you step on the pedal while your hands are inside.</p>
<p>Almost all the parts that need to be oiled will have a little oil hole on top, or a piece of oily felt.
Additionally some of the sliding parts can be lubricated by putting a small amount (half drop) of oil on a cotton bud, and wiping that on the slide, and turning by hand.</p>
<p>You don't need much oil: half a drop is enough. Squeeze the oil bottle till it bulges about half a drop, then touch to the oil hole, it will run inside the hole.</p>
<p>Keep oil, oily fingers etc away from any rubber items (e.g. drive belts) and keep paper towel available to wipe up spills.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-13T03:56:16.923Z
2020-08-13T03:56:16.923Z
BobT
<p>I would like to properly clean and oil a borrowed Singer 3002 machine! I have the instruction manual but it only says clean and oil, without much instruction on how to do that. I've been looking for an instructional video online for one of these older singer machines but haven't found one that corresponds with this model or a similar one. If you have any advice on what to use for the cleaning and how to do it, I would be very grateful! Thank you!</p>

<sewing><sewing-machine>
Cleaning and oiling a Singer 3002
Holly
# Cleaning and oiling a Singer 3002

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-07)

I would like to properly clean and oil a borrowed Singer 3002 machine! I have the instruction manual but it only says clean and oil, without much instruction on how to do that. I've been looking for an instructional video online for one of these older singer machines but haven't found one that corresponds with this model or a similar one. If you have any advice on what to use for the cleaning and how to do it, I would be very grateful! Thank you!

**Tags:** sewing, sewing-machine


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-07-08. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Most of the time you don't need a cleaning manual dedicated to the specific machine. What you need is a basic understanding what cleaning and oiling is intended to achieve and what the mechanical parts of the machine have to do with it.

Sewing machines, especially the older models without electronics, are masterpieces of mechanics. The rotation of one single motor is transferred to the base of the machine and the needle, and additionally translated into different needle positions that create sewing patterns. The top thread is transported into the bobbin case by the needle and must slide smoothly around the bobbin. All these movements should me as smooth and unimpeded as possible for the machine to work well.

What could impede these delicate movements is: lint, dust and old oil.

To clean the machine you gradually remove all removable covers and parts to access the mechanical innards. How to do this depends on your individual machine. Keep screws and small parts in a saucer or small bowl so you won't lose any. Open and clean one section after another, then put all removable parts back in and close the cover before opening the next part to not confuse any parts. The main sections to open and clean are:

* The base, including the bobbin case, feed dog and needle plate itself (most often opened from the side you sit in front of)
* The sewing arm (most often opened from the top)
* The needle holder and mechanics just above it, including the lamp (sometimes opened from the side, sometimes from the top)

Hopefully the instruction manual contains instructions on how to open the machine. I was unable to find any material explaining how to open and maintain a Singer 3002.

The cleaning itself is simple: Carefully remove all dust and lint using either a soft cloth, dry brush or a gentle vacuum. The cloth can be dry or slightly dampened with clean water. Detergents or other cleaning products are not required.

Usually it's sufficient to wipe oiled parts off to remove the outer layer of oil that caught dust and lint particles. Use the hand wheel to slowly move the parts and wipe any old oil away that you couldn't access before. Then add a drop of fresh oil and you're basically done. You should only use special machine oil or mineral oil for sewing machines, because it stays liquid for a very long time. Organic oils become rancid and viscous over time and are not suited for sewing machines.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you very much for this detailed answer, it was very helpful!  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-08-13. Score: 2

I'll add some minor detail to Allison's answer.
Unplug the sewing machine! in case you step on the pedal while your hands are inside.

Almost all the parts that need to be oiled will have a little oil hole on top, or a piece of oily felt.
Additionally some of the sliding parts can be lubricated by putting a small amount (half drop) of oil on a cotton bud, and wiping that on the slide, and turning by hand.

You don't need much oil: half a drop is enough. Squeeze the oil bottle till it bulges about half a drop, then touch to the oil hole, it will run inside the hole.

Keep oil, oily fingers etc away from any rubber items (e.g. drive belts) and keep paper towel available to wipe up spills.


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