An image forming apparatus includes a charging unit for charging an image bearing member, an image forming unit for forming a toner image on the image bearing member that has been charged, and a cleaning unit for contacting the image bearing member to clean the surface of the image bearing member. In the apparatus, a ratio of a period wherein the image bearing member is moved without being charged to a period wherein the image bearing member is moved while being charged, is controlled to be a predetermined value or greater.