An automated analyzer comprising: a liquid processing part provided with a rod member that is arranged to stir or dispense a liquid; a cleaning part that is arranged to clean the rod member ; and a control unit that is arranged to control the liquid processing part and the cleaning part and to perform a first cycle and a second cycle subsequent to the first cycle, wherein each cycle includes at least a cleaning operation for cleaning the rod member , wherein the control unit is further arranged to determine whether it is necessary for the liquid processing part to stir or dispense a liquid containing a diluted specimen or a reagent in a reaction container during the second cycle based on a processing schedule of the specimen or reagent in the reaction container , and if it is determined that it is necessary for the control unit to cause the liquid processing part to stir or dispense the liquid in the second cycle, the control unit is arranged to perform first processing that sets a range of the rod member to be cleaned in the second cycle as a first range (R2, R6), and to cause the cleaning part to clean the first range (R2, R6) of the rod member , and if it is determined that it is not necessary for the control unit to cause the liquid processing part to stir or dispense the liquid during the second cycle, the control unit is arranged to perform second processing that sets a range of the rod member to be cleaned in the second cycle as a second range (R4, R8) that is wider than the first range (R2, R6), to cause the cleaning part to clean the second range (R4, R8) of the rod member , and thereafter to set the range of the rod member to be cleaned in the second cycle as the first range (R2, R6), and to cause the cleaning part to clean the first range (R2, R6) of the rod member . a liquid processing part provided with a rod member that is arranged to stir or dispense a liquid; a cleaning part that is arranged to clean the rod member ; and a control unit that is arranged to control the liquid processing part and the cleaning part and to perform a first cycle and a second cycle subsequent to the first cycle, wherein each cycle includes at least a cleaning operation for cleaning the rod member , wherein the control unit is further arranged to determine whether it is necessary for the liquid processing part to stir or dispense a liquid containing a diluted specimen or a reagent in a reaction container during the second cycle based on a processing schedule of the specimen or reagent in the reaction container , and if it is determined that it is necessary for the control unit to cause the liquid processing part to stir or dispense the liquid in the second cycle, the control unit is arranged to perform first processing that sets a range of the rod member to be cleaned in the second cycle as a first range (R2, R6), and to cause the cleaning part to clean the first range (R2, R6) of the rod member , and if it is determined that it is not necessary for the control unit to cause the liquid processing part to stir or dispense the liquid during the second cycle, the control unit is arranged to perform second processing that sets a range of the rod member to be cleaned in the second cycle as a second range (R4, R8) that is wider than the first range (R2, R6), to cause the cleaning part to clean the second range (R4, R8) of the rod member , and thereafter to set the range of the rod member to be cleaned in the second cycle as the first range (R2, R6), and to cause the cleaning part to clean the first range (R2, R6) of the rod member . <EOS>