An ink jet recording device is provided which includes an ink jet head which has a nozzle surface where a plurality of nozzle opening ends are arranged and which ejects water-based ink from the nozzles to a recording medium and a wiping device that executes a wiping operation where the nozzle surface and a wiping member are brought into contact and the nozzle surface is wiped, where oleic acid and a dispersant for dispersing the oleic acid into water by emulsifying the oleic acid are added to the water-based ink.