The document provides instructions for cleaning and maintaining a sewing machine. It lists the necessary supplies which include rags, kerosene, oil, brushes and needles. It then provides a 13 step process for cleaning the machine by removing parts and using kerosene to clean dust and lint, then lubricating moving parts with oil before reassembling and testing the machine. The goal is to clean the machine thoroughly and lubricate parts to ensure proper functioning.

1. Dr. Maria Esther F. Medalla

2.  Old newspaper
 Screw driver (small, medium, large)
 ½” paintbrush/toothbrush (old)
 A long piece of wire
 Kerosene in an oiler
 Rags
 Singer oil
 Cloth for testing stitches
 Thread (contrast to cloth)
 Machine needle #14 or 16
 Cutting shears or scissors
 Hand needle large
 Machine oil
 NOTE: Use non-gumming high grade oil. Do not use coconut or
cooking oil

3.  1. Spread the old newspaper under the
machine to protect the floor from oil and
dirt. Take off the spool of thread and
bobbin case. NOTE: to loosen screws, turn
counterclockwise; to tighten clockwise
 2. Remove the needle, presser foot, slide
plate, throat plate and the face plate. Put off
the leather belt from the hand wheel. Do
not remove any other parts.

4.  3. Remove the lint and dusts that
may have collected under and
around the feed mechanism with
the pointed wire and brush. Clean
all the oil holes
 4. Fill and oiler with kerosene. Tilt
the head of the machine to the
back, and squirt a liberal amount
into each oil holes and to each
moving parts.

5.  5. Position the head of the machine to its
former place and out of the leather belt and
run the machine a few seconds to work the
kerosene into the bearings. If the machine
begins to run hard, the bearings are still
dirty. Squirt some more kerosene on those
oscillating parts and find the trouble.
 6. Remove the belt once more and tilt again
the head. With a long needle, clean the
shuttle race with a piece of rag wet with
little kerosene. Clean the feed dog and the
needle bar mechanism, when through, put
the head toward to its original position.

6.  7. Clean thoroughly the bearings of the
treadle and those at the end of the crank
of the flywheels. Squirt plenty of
kerosene to all these parts and run the
treadle. Wipe the machine head and
treadle with dry rags.
 8. Put oil in every hole before replacing
the parts removed while cleaning. Make
sure that all wearing surfaces and
bearings are well-lubricated with oil
except for the shuttle body. Only a little
oil should be used on it.

7.  9. Run the machine for a few minutes
to work the oil into each bearing. Wipe
the excess oil from all parts with a
piece of cloth.
 10. Replace all the parts taken off.
Don’t force parts and screws into
places to which they may not belong.
 11. Run the machine again with a
piece of cloth to absorb excess oil
from around the needle and feed
mechanism

8.  12. Test the machine stitches
using the piece of trial cloth.
Continue testing until the stitches
are in good tension and length
and until there are no traces of
oil.
 13. Oil the machine after each
day’s work or after 8 to 10 hours
of use. For later oiling once drop
of each hole is enough.