An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material in a nip; a nip forming member for cooperating with said heating rotatable member to form the nip; a rubbing rotatable member having a rubbing material for rubbing said heating rotatable member; the following is satisfied: 7.times.10.sup.-3.ltoreq.(P/.pi.H tan .theta.) (|V-v|/V).ltoreq.68.times.10.sup.-3 whereP: load [N] by said rubbing member to said heating rotatable member,V: peripheral speed of said heating rotatable member [mm/sec],v: peripheral speed [mm/sec] the of said rubbing member,h: microhardness [GPa] of said heating rotatable member, and.theta.: a half-apex-angle [.degree.] of said rubbing material.