A maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using an ink composition and a treatment liquid containing a coagulant, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus has an ink jet head for ejecting the ink composition, the method includes a wiping step of wiping a nozzle-forming surface of the ink jet head with a maintenance liquid and an absorbent wiping member, and the maintenance liquid contains water that constitutes 80% or more by mass of a total mass of the maintenance liquid.