It’s important to know how to take care of your machine after hours or days spent sewing to keep things running smoothly! Basic machine maintenance is easy on the BERNINA 990.

I like to go through this routine every time I work through a full Jumbo Bobbin on my machine or between projects, whichever comes first. When you create a routine with all your maintenance tasks, you don’t have to keep track of what’s been done and when. This process takes just a few minutes, and your machine will thank you for it!

Supplies for B 990 Machine Maintenance

• BERNINA 990
• Soft nylon cleaning brush
• Microfiber cloth
• Tweezers
• Machine oil

1. Remove Hardware

Prepare for cleaning by removing the presser foot, needle, and stitch plate. This will give you the best access and visibility to all the parts that need to be cleaned.

2. Clean Needle Bar

Like cleaning at home, I suggest working from the top down! That means starting at the needle bar.

Using a soft brush and/or microfiber cloth, sweep away all the lint and dust from the needle bar. Lower the needle, either with the Needle Up/Down button or by turning the handwheel, to get all the lint higher on the needle bar.

Return the needle to the highest position using the Needle Up/Down button.

3. Clean Under the Stitch Plate

Sweep away lint and dust from the stitch plate and feed dog area using a soft brush.

4. Clean Needle Threader

The automatic needle threader can also occasionally catch lint or loose threads. To clean the threader, tap the Main Menu on the machine screen and navigate to Settings.

From Settings, select Machine Settings, then Maintenance, and then Cleaning the Needle Threader and Thread Clamp.

Follow the prompts and watch the video on screen to clean the threader. The threading mechanism will swing out, giving you access to clean all around it. Press the Needle Threader button to return the threader to its default position.

5. Clean Thread Catcher

Like the needle threader, we also can open up the thread catcher to clean out any bits of thread that get trapped in the automatic thread cutter.

Again on the screen, tap on Cleaning the Thread Catcher and follow the prompts. The thread cutter and catcher will open up in the stitch plate area, allowing you to remove any remaining loose threads or lint with a soft brush or tweezers.

6. Clean Bobbin and Hook

Working our way down on the machine, let’s get into the bobbin area next. Lower the bobbin door, then remove the bobbin and bobbin case from the machine.

Then lower the hook race cover by pressing in the small latch on the lower left side.

Pull out the hook — it’s secured in place by a magnet, so a gentle tug will easily remove it from the machine.

Sweep out the dust and lint from the hook area and bobbin door with your brush and microfiber cloth and grab any thready bits with tweezers.

On the B 990, the BERNINA Integrated Stitch Regulator is built into the bobbin area — you will see a small lens on the top edge of the bobbin sensor. Give this a gentle wipe with a microfiber cloth to make sure the sensor stays clean!

7. Oil

Only after all the lint is removed should you add oil. Do one last quick overall sweep and make sure your machine is dust-free.

Oiling is simple on the B 990; there are just two spots for you to add oil. First, add just one drop to the hook race — the metal surface where the edge of our hook turns and creates friction as we sew.

Second is in the hook itself. After you remove the hook from the machine, take a close look at the inside where you will see two holes in the metal with felt pads. Do NOT try to remove that felt thinking it’s lint! It needs to be there! That felt acts as a small reservoir to keep the hook oiled. Add just a drop to each of the holes on the felt.

8. Replace Hook and Bobbin Case

After oiling the hook and hook race, reinsert the hook. To do this, locate the small white or light gray dot inside the hook area on the machine. It’s usually right around the 6 o’clock spot.

Now find the hole in the hook itself (the one without a felt pad). Orient the hook so that this hole is about the same direction as the dot in the machine. Insert the hook into the machine, doing your best to line up these two spots. Again, the hook is held in place magnetically so it will snap in when properly aligned.

Bring the hook race cover back up, snap it into place, reinsert the bobbin case (with a freshly wound bobbin, if you’re ready to keep sewing!), and close the bobbin door.

9. Replace Hardware

Attach the desired stitch plate by lowering it first to the left side of the opening then snapping down to the right.

Insert a new needle and attach the desired presser foot.

10. Final Wipe Down and Store

With your dry microfiber cloth, give the whole machine a thorough wipe down, giving the touch screen and the stainless steel freearm cover a little extra attention.

After cleaning, be sure to top the machine with the dust cover to keep things dust-free until you’re ready to sew again!

Extra Do’s and Don’ts for Cleaning

Just a few extra notes for you when it comes to cleaning your machine.

DO: Use the oil provided with your machine. Not all oils are compatible with all machines! The one included in the box or purchased from your local BERNINA store is specifically tested and chosen for BERNINA domestic sewing machines. It is not interchangeable with oil for overlockers or longarms.

DON’T: Use canned or compressed air. Blowing air into the machine may look like it’s removing lint and dust, but it really just blows debris into the machine where you can’t see it or clean it out. After repeated use, that lint can compact and felt in your machine, giving you a world of problems. Remember, we want to pull the lint out, not push it deeper in! If you’re tempted by an easier solution, opt for a small vacuum.

DO: Replace your needle … and more often than you think! A new, sharp needle can solve many problems in stitching and will keep your sewing process smooth. Dull needles can produce not-so-pretty stitching and bent needles can even damage your machine.

DON’T: Neglect your machine! A quick dust and drop of oil will keep your machine happy. With time, you will learn the sounds of your machine and recognize when it’s time for some TLC. Different types and speeds of stitching may require more frequent care. The type of thread you use will also affect how frequently you need to clean. Take a look under your stitch plate and in the bobbin area regularly, even if you don’t need to clean every single time.

DO: Treat your machine to a spa day. Take your machine to your local BERNINA store and technician for a deep clean annually. They will also make sure the machine is running the latest firmware, update it if necessary, and ensure it’s operating to its best ability.