In a magnetic head cleaning mechanism applicable to a magnetic tape apparatus using a threading system, a cleaning member is placed at a cleaning position with high precision without excessively pushing the cleaning member. For this purpose, an arm to move a cleaning bristle to clean a magnetic head is disposed at a position on a side of the magnetic head relative to a threader track. The bristle moves through a moving path guided by a cam groove. The bristle first moves toward the threader track and then toward the cleaning position in front of the magnetic head. During the movement to approach the magnetic head through the moving path, the bristle does not exceed the cleaning position.