There are provided an inkjet printing apparatus and a wiping method which are capable of reducing the load on a wiper. A wetting liquid retaining unit 140 including a transferring portion 221 making contact with the wiper 120 to transfer the wetting liquid is moved to a first position where contact with the wiper is possible and a second position where contact with the wiper is impossible. Drag generated by movement of the wiper 120 does not act on it and the transferring portion 221 can make contact with the wiper 120 in the Z direction (vertical direction). So, while the wiper 120 is not almost acted upon by drag in the thickness direction (Y direction) and the width direction (X direction) and rubbing against the transferring portion, the wetting liquid can be transferred with drag in the height direction (Z direction) alone in which relatively flexible deformation is allowed.