an ink jet recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording material by ejecting ink from an array of ejection outlets provided in an ejection side surface of a recording head , includes a cleaning mechanism , including an absorbing member for absorbing and removing the ink deposited on the ejection side surface , for cleaning the ejection side surface by moving the absorbing member in contact with the ejection side surface in a direction in which the array of the ejection outlets extends ; wherein the absorbing member comprises a plurality of absorbing materials having average pore sizes different from each other and contacted with each , and an absorbing material having a larger average pore size is contacted to the ejection outlet to absorb the ink .