BTW I did find some pipe cleaners and they do a great job. The other thing that has contributed to keeping lint out of my sewing machine is that I just found a hand held vacuum cleaner with a nozzle to which I can attatch mini tools. My regular machine doesn't require the vacuum tool very often but I cannot believe how clean it got my serger. I use the serger to prevent fabric from fraying in the wash prior to use. I was lax on that habit for a while but then when there were so many bleeding problems with the HST exchange I am back to washing everything. Love my mini vacuum tools and I love my vacuum cleaners. Now if it were just that easy to take care of the dust in the rest of the house. Lois

I am on a quest to find some fluffy pipe cleaners. Some skinny ones might be good too! Thanks for the idea. Lois

I did a workshop many years ago with Libby Lehman and she recommended large pipe cleaners.

I use a pipe cleaner also. The lint seems to cling to it better and it all is removed easily.

I'm still using the first genie I took from the packet. My Janome Jem didn't like FMQ and it solved the problem.( I did buy the FMQ bobbin-holder but don't see much difference than with using the genie so don't bother unless I'm doing a LOT.)

I think I saw Cindy Needham suggest this somewhere but I just can't find it now. Anyway, it's great because it gets a lot of fluff and lint out. It's also great for getting the lint out of the feed-dogs.

What about Q-tips? I use them on the longarm. I like the pipe cleaner idea. Thanks for this!

My old machine doesn't need it, a Bernina 1230 and sort of old and slow but still moving along kinda like me, and my new machine, a Bernina 830, doesn't fit it.

Rita, that's a good idea. I just have a small artist's paintbrush. the pipe cleaner is more bendy. I wonder if there are any around the house?
Kathy

Yes I use pipe-cleaners to clean out all the lint and sometimes I am amazed at how much has accumulated.

PosyP wrote:
Oh yes! I clean mine out every couple of bobbins. It's awful how much lint there is in there. It's a miracle the machine still works.

Kathy

rehak wrote: Don't know anything about the Genies, but with the top-loading bobbins, you do have a bobbin case, you just don't need to remove it to change the bobbin. It is worth-while removing the plate that holds it in and taking it out once in a while to clear out the lint etc that collects around it though.

I've used them for a few years in my longarm. I did have to remove the backlash spring but have had absolutely no problems with the Genies.

They come in packs with something like 10 or 20, but are really cheap. I'm still using the first one I took out of the pack, but I often drop it on the floor when changing bobbins so I can see how they could get lost easily. But mine is a front-loading bobbin (a Bernina). I would imagine that with a top-loading bobbin you would just set it in there and leave it and it wouldn't fall out of the bobbin case since you don't have a bobbin case. But I suppose it could stick to the bobbin and fall out that way. Anyway, if you get them you will have enough to share with friends and to replace any that get lost!

Nancy