Can you use household oil on a sewing machine?

Never. Use only sewing machine oil. Other oils gum up the mechanism.

Why is my sewing machine making weird noises?

Usually lint buildup, lack of oil, or a damaged needle. Clean and oil first.

Use a small brush to sweep out lint. Never use compressed air to blow it deeper into the machine.

Every 1-2 years for tune-up. More often if you use it daily.

Household

A clean sewing machine makes a bigger difference than you'd think. Here's the most effective method, plus the mistakes most people make.

1
Unplug the machine
Always unplug the sewing machine before cleaning to prevent electric shock.
2
Remove the needle and bobbin case
Remove the needle, bobbin case, and any other removable parts according to your manual.
3
Brush out lint
Use a small soft brush to remove lint from the bobbin area, feed dogs, and around the needle plate.
4
Use compressed air carefully
Lightly blow out lint with low-pressure compressed air. Never blow lint deeper into the machine -- always blow outward.
5
Oil moving parts
Apply a few drops of sewing machine oil to the moving parts indicated in your manual. Wipe off excess.

TIPClean your sewing machine after every project to prevent lint buildup that causes problems.
TIPGet your machine professionally serviced every 1-2 years for deep cleaning and adjustments.
TIPUse only sewing machine oil -- other oils gum up the mechanism.

XUsing regular oil instead of sewing machine oil, which gums up the machine.
XBlowing compressed air into the machine, which forces lint deeper into mechanisms.
XSkipping cleaning, which is the #1 cause of sewing machine problems.

After every project. Deep clean monthly during heavy use.