Sewing Machine Maintenance ~ Do you or don't you?

I think most sewists know the basics of sewing machine maintenance - changing your needles often, keeping your tension disks free of lint and thread, checking your bobbin casing and adding oil if your machine requires it AND if your machine requires it oiling it on the regular.

But do you do that?

One thing I've learned now that I'm sewing & serging with top of the line machines, is that I need to stay on top of my maintenance. Which means removing plates on my sewing machine that I never did on the others, making sure that I change needles and insert them correctly or don't use a blunt one, removing lint with a tweezer and make-up brushes...never using canned air on them. Even constantly wiping them down to remove the inevitable dust.

But do you do this?

When I was younger - read less experienced - I cut corners. I had limited funds so I would use a needle until it broke. I removed the bobbin case only under extreme duress. I was so afraid that I'd never get it back in and then what would I sew on? I rarely played with the tension on my sewing machine - Gawd forbid that I couldn't get a straight stitch again! And I used canned air on my machines like it was adding gas to my car...*sigh* I'm surprised that my machines didn't quit on me earlier than they did!

So how about you?

Are you crazed about your sewing machine and serger maintenance? Do you have a healthy attitude about changing your needles and oiling your machine or are you loosey goosey? This is the Question of the Day...so talk to me. How much maintenance do you do to your sewing machine?! Or is that a matter for the sewing machine repair guy? I'm interested...so the comment section is open!

...as always more later!