Method for cleaning the disc surface and the head support structure in a magnetic disc drive

In a disc drive including a disc having a magnetic surface and supported for rotation on a spindle, a spindle motor for driving said spindle, a transducer head, a head support structure, a drive motor coupled to said head support structure for moving said head along said disc surface, and control means for controlling said drive motor and the speed of said spindle motor, a method for cleaning said disc surface and said head comprising the steps of:

• loading and flying said head on said disc surface;
• reducing said spindle motor speed to a speed where said head flies at a first predetermined percentage of the normal flying height;
• moving said head across said disc surface;
• positioning said head at a predetermined location on said disc surface;
• reducing said spindle motor speed to a speed where said head flies at a second predetermined percentage, lower than said first predetermined percentage, of said normal flying height;
• and
• increasing said spindle motor speed to a speed where said head flies at said normal flying height.