A system to perform a wiping operation upon an ink jet print head includes a first motion of the ink jet print head in a first direction to wipe the ink jet print head against a wiping element, and a second motion of the ink jet print head in the first direction to wipe the ink jet print head against the wiping element. A system to wipe an ink jet print head also includes a first motion of the ink jet print head in a first direction against a wiping element to wipe the ink jet print head, and ejection of ink toward the wiping element during the first motion. The wiping element may be a non-planar wave wiper.