Eva Mendes says cleaning helped her bond with Ryan Gosling: ‘It was a bonding experience’

For many couples, shared interests help forge lasting connections—but for Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling, that bond was sparked in the most unexpected of places: a sparkling clean kitchen. In a recent interview, Mendes opened up about the surprising way she and Gosling connected when they first began dating, revealing that a love for cleanliness and family rituals became the foundation for their early relationship.

When love smells like Pine-Sol

Eva Mendes, 51, has always associated cleanliness with comfort, warmth, and family. Speaking to New Beauty, the actress and entrepreneur recalled vivid memories of her childhood, filled with the scent of Pine-Sol and the vibrant sounds of her mother singing to Latin pop icon El Puma. “Some of my best memories from when I was little are of my mom cleaning the house over the weekend,” Mendes shared. “She’d be playing a record super loudly, and it would wake me up.”

That deep-rooted association between home and cleanliness turned out to be more than a nostalgic recollection—it became the unlikely bridge that connected her to Ryan Gosling, 44, when the two began dating in 2011 after co-starring in The Place Beyond the Pines. “I always thought it was a Cuban thing that we love to clean,” she explained. “But when I met Ryan, he just loved it.”

Mendes described how Gosling was immediately drawn to her family’s energy in the kitchen—where cleaning wasn’t just a chore, but a cultural ritual. “When my family was around, we would literally take over the kitchen. It had to be clean,” she said. That shared appreciation, she added, “was a bonding experience.”

From clean kitchens to clean living

Mendes’ love of order and tidiness has become a core part of her lifestyle brand, Skura Style x Eva Mendes Collection, which she’s grown with passion and precision. Known for its elevated take on everyday essentials like sponges and kitchen tools, the line is deeply personal to Mendes—not only in design but also in spirit. “I have my own packaging, which I’m just nuts for,” she said. “It was so fun designing that.”

For Mendes, cleaning isn’t just about appearance—it’s a grounding experience. In a previous interview in April 2024, she described dishwashing as a form of therapy. “A clean sink helps clear my head. I find doing the dishes meditative. It is a time to think and relax,” she said. “The rest of my family pitches in; however, the dishes are really my domain — my happy place.”

This mindful approach to homemaking is more than just aesthetic—it’s symbolic of how Mendes views balance and wellness. In her world, a sparkling counter can reflect a peaceful mind, and a sponge can be the start of serenity.

Motherhood, partnership, and slowing down

Since stepping away from the spotlight in 2014 after appearing in Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River, Mendes has devoted herself almost entirely to motherhood. Together with Gosling, she’s raising their two daughters—Esmeralda Amada, 10, and Amada Lee, 9—away from the public eye, emphasizing grounded family values and everyday joys.

“Summer is their time to be kids, and I’m really taking it in,” Mendes said. “I just want to be with them. Whatever I’m doing, as long as I’m with them and Ryan, of course, that’s where I’m happiest.” Her words reflect a woman who has consciously traded red carpets for summer playdates, and leading roles for family dinners.

Though her film credits have paused, Mendes did lend her voice to the popular children’s series Bluey, delighting fans with a rare return to the entertainment world. But it’s clear her focus lies elsewhere: in the home, in her children’s laughter, and in those quiet, cherished routines that define a family.

A private couple rooted in shared values

Despite their fame, Mendes and Gosling have kept their relationship famously low-key, rarely making joint public appearances or giving interviews about their private lives. But glimpses like this—revealing how the couple bonded over something as simple and sincere as a clean kitchen—offer a refreshing look at the enduring power of shared values.

In an industry often known for glamour and spectacle, Mendes and Gosling’s connection seems grounded in the ordinary, the domestic, the meaningful. Whether it’s a mop and a bottle of Pine-Sol or a kitchen filled with music and memories, they’ve found joy in the little things. And in doing so, they’ve built something lasting.

As Mendes continues to expand her lifestyle ventures and nurture her growing daughters, it’s clear that her idea of success is no longer tied to box office numbers or premieres—but to clean countertops, quiet evenings, and the happiness of being present. And if that joy happens to come with a sparkle, so much the better.