An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section which forms an image on a paper sheet by using a developer; a fixing section which includes a rotational axis and rotates around the rotational axis so as to fix the image formed on the paper sheet; a transport mechanism which transports the paper sheet on a paper transport route in a transport direction; a transport stop detecting section which detects a transport stop of the paper sheet; a judgment section which judges to which one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the fixing section in the transport direction the paper sheet is removed after the transport stop is detected by the transport stop detecting section; and a control section which controls the transport mechanism to execute a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing section based on a judgment result of the judgment section.