A liquid ejecting apparatus performs first contact of an absorption member with a nozzle surface in which nozzles for liquid ejection are arranged, and performs second contact of the absorption member with the nozzle surface after the first contact. Pressure applied to, of the nozzle surface, a nozzle neighborhood area (a nozzle peripheral area) including the nozzles due to contact of the absorption member in the first contact is lower than pressure applied to the nozzle neighborhood area (a nozzle peripheral area) due to contact of the absorption member in the second contact.