To provide an ejection head maintenance liquid for a treatment liquid, a maintenance method and an image forming apparatus, particularly for enabling the ejection stability of the treatment liquid for obtaining excellent printing for a long period.

In the head maintenance liquid for a treatment liquid in the image forming apparatus which adheres, on a recording medium, ink containing a pigment and a treatment liquid capable of coagulating the ink and containing no pigment, the head maintenance liquid for a treatment liquid contains at least an organic solvent, a surfactant, an inorganic salt and water. When the treatment liquid head is not used for a long period, the treatment liquid in the treatment liquid head is replaced with the head maintenance liquid for a treatment liquid to prevent degradation in the treatment liquid head, enabling stable operation of the image forming apparatus for a long period.