A tape drive includes a transducer head, a tape carrier, a tape displacement structure and a cleaning device. The transducer head is configured to read information from a data tape that is received by the tape drive. The tape carrier is configured to deliver a data tape in association with the transducer head along a travel path. The tape displacement structure is configured to bias a received tape away from the transducer head. Finally, the cleaning device is configured to engage the transducer head for cleaning when the data tape is biased from the transducer head. The cleaning device and the transducer head cooperate to enable cleaning of the transducer head without removal of the data tape. A method is also disclosed.