If your sewing machine has been skipping stitches, making new noises, or just doesn’t feel as smooth as it used to, it may be overdue for a tune-up. One of the most common questions we hear at Glory Bee’s Sewing Center in Fallston, MD is simple: how often should I have my sewing machine serviced? Here’s a clear, no-nonsense guide.

The short answer: once a year

For most home sewists, an annual clean, oil, and adjustment keeps your machine running like new. Think of it like an oil change for your car — even if nothing seems wrong, lint, dust, and old lubricant build up inside the machine and slowly throw off your timing, tension, and stitch quality.

If you sew several times a week, run an embroidery machine for long jobs, or work with linty fabrics like flannel and fleece, consider a service every 6 to 9 months instead.

Signs your machine needs service sooner

• Skipped or uneven stitches that persist after you re-thread and change the needle
• Thread bunching or nesting underneath the fabric
• Clunking, grinding, or squealing sounds
• The handwheel feels stiff or the machine hesitates to start
• Tension problems you can’t resolve no matter what you adjust

What a professional service actually includes

A proper bench service is far more than a quick dusting. Our certified technicians fully clean the internals, oil and lubricate the moving parts, check and reset the timing, calibrate tension, test stitch quality across multiple settings, and inspect the motor, belts, and feed dogs. We service all makes and models — including Janome, Brother, Bernina, Elna, Baby Lock, and even Viking and Husqvarna machines.

What you can do between services

• Change your needle every 6–8 hours of sewing (a dull needle causes more problems than people realize)
• Brush out the bobbin area and feed dogs regularly — never blow into the machine with canned air, which pushes lint deeper
• Use quality thread; cheap thread sheds lint and gums up tension discs
• Keep your machine covered when not in use

Ready to book a service?

You can submit a service request online in about two minutes — we’ll have your work order ready so there’s no waiting at the counter when you drop off. Already dropped your machine off? Check your work order status here, or call us at 443-981-3182.