a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a read / write head of a data storage disk . the cleaning apparatus comprises a mounting base mounted adjacent to the disk . the base includes a v - shaped lever mechanism for rotating a cleaning pad . the v - shaped lever mechanism is activated by an actuator arm for positioning the read / write head as the arm moves the read / write head across a cleaning surface of the pad . a loading ramp is used to vertically position the head relative to the cleaning pad . the v - shaped lever mechanism can be used with either a rotary or linear actuator . the cleaning pad can have a brush with bristles , or a foamed backed cloth . the cleaning pad is particularly suited for read / write heads having a grooved air - bearing surface likely to collect dust .