Extend the Life of Your Pleater!

How to Clean & Protect Your Pleater...         

     I have received a number of questions regarding how to clean your pleater and what you can do to protect it when not in use.  So, I have written this guide to help anyone out there from beginner to experienced care for their pleaters and extend the life of their pleaters as well.

     I hope that this will be of some help to those of you who are unsure of where to start or have just purchased their first pleater.

     The easiest way to clean your pleater bar is with a soft toothbrush.  This will protect the finish on the bars but still get all the dirt and fabric fluff etc. that build up in it, out without too much trouble.  You can also wipe them off with a damp cloth providing that you make sure that you dry the bars completely before asssembly to prevent the possibility of any rust forming after reassembling your pleater. 

      A little trick to avoid frustration when putting your pleater & needles back together is to tie a pkece of thread or put a small dott on the same end of all your bars so that you know what end goes where.  You will be amazed at how well it prevents many hours of confusion and anxiety when trying to put them back together. 

     Once you have cleaned & reassembled your pleater bars, I would suggest that you run some wax paper through it.  Do this 3 or 4 times to help 'lubricate' it so to speak. Your needles & the bars will function much better & the fabric won't have the tendancy to become stuck while running through the pleater.

     By running the wax paper through after every use, you will help to keep your pleater functioning better & you will have fewer problems running your fabric through. Be sure to run the wax paper thorough one more times once you are finished with your pleating & before you put your pleater away.

     Also, be sure to keep your pleater covered while not in use to keep the dust & other airborn dirt off it.  You will find that by doing these few steps your pleater will function better & your needles will last much longer as well.

     Now with all that done, the next time you decide that you want to do some pleating for one of your favorite smocking pattern, your pleater will be ready to go.  You won't have to do anything extra in order for it to be functioning perfectly.  By keeping your pleater clean and protected, you will always have it ready whenever you are.

     I hope this has been helpful to you. If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know at any time.  I am more than happy to help. 

Marnie