Which Sewing Machine Oil Should You Use at Home?

A little oil can be part of looking after a sewing machine, but the first question is whether your machine needs you to add any at all. Some do; others must not be oiled by the owner. Start with the care instructions for your exact model, rather than a general oiling diagram.

Does my machine need oiling?

Look in the cleaning and maintenance section of the manual. If it says not to oil the machine, leave the lubrication to servicing. If it gives an oiling procedure, follow that procedure, including the oil, amount, places and interval it specifies.

If you don’t have the book, look up the full model number on the manufacturer’s support website. A diagram for a similar-looking machine can show quite different oiling points.

Which oil should I use?

Use the sewing-machine oil or lubricant specified in your machine’s instructions. Where ordinary sewing-machine oil is specified, choose a product labelled for that purpose. Household oils, cooking oils and general-purpose sprays are not substitutes for the specified lubricant.

Keep the bottle labelled and follow its storage instructions. A bottle supplied with one machine doesn’t automatically tell you what another machine needs.

Clean first, then follow the oiling instructions

Switch off and unplug before cleaning or oiling. Brush out accessible lint as the manual describes, particularly around the bobbin area and feed dogs. Only remove the parts the manual tells you to remove, and put them back correctly afterwards.

If your model needs oiling, use its marked points and stated quantity. There isn’t one number of drops or one monthly schedule for every machine. Don’t add oil to tension discs, the thread path or electrical parts.

Follow the instructions for wiping away excess and returning the machine to use. Test on a spare piece of fabric before going back to your project so you can check for any oil marks.

What if the machine is noisy or the stitches have changed?

Extra oil isn’t the first answer to a stitching problem. Check the correct bobbin, suitable sewing thread in both the top and bobbin, a fresh needle of the right type and size, and the full threading path. Raise the presser foot when threading so the tension plates are open. Our thread and stitching guide explains the checks and the plain-cotton test.

If there’s a burning smell, unusual heat, a grinding noise or a handwheel that won’t move freely, stop using the machine rather than adding oil and trying again. If the basic checks don’t resolve a stitching problem, book a service or repair online, then drop it off during opening hours.

For model-specific instructions, use Brother’s manuals and support or the support pages for your machine’s manufacturer. Janome’s HD9 manual is one example of a model with its own specified oiling procedure; it is not an oiling guide for other machines.