Eva Mendes Says Cleaning Sparked Her Bond With Ryan Gosling—and Honestly, We Get It

Forget Hollywood clichés—Eva Mendes reveals the surprisingly relatable way she and Ryan Gosling fell for each other: over Pine-Sol and family kitchen cleanups.

Sneha Kashyap June 19, 2025Last Updated: June 19, 2025

43,687 2 minutes read

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Reviewed & Published by HH Entertaintment Desk

Los Angeles, June 19: For some couples, it’s music. For others, movies. For Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling, love bloomed over… Pine-Sol and a spotless stovetop.

Yes, Hollywood’s most low-key power couple apparently bonded over a mutual love for cleaning. In a refreshingly grounded chat with People, Mendes got candid about how their relationship really took off—and it wasn’t at some swanky wrap party.

“I always thought it was a Cuban thing that we love to clean,” Mendes shared, reminiscing about growing up with her mom scrubbing floors to El Puma blaring from the speakers. “He [Gosling] would come over. He just loved it. When my family was around, we would literally take over the kitchen. It had to be clean.”

So while other celeb couples were jetting off to Cannes or doing coordinated pap walks, these two were… scrubbing countertops? Honestly, we love that for them.

Clean House, Full Hearts

Back in 2011, Mendes and Gosling met on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines, where they played young, complicated parents. The sparks onscreen were obvious—but behind the scenes, it was the smell of cleaning products and shared kitchen chaos that really sealed the deal.

“It was a bonding experience,” she said. Which tracks, because this is the couple that’s managed to stay together, raise two kids, and somehow still avoid becoming internet overshare machines.

In an era of PR-staged love stories, the idea of two gorgeous movie stars connecting over a mop and a family dinner is oddly comforting. Domesticity never looked so chic.

From Red Carpets to Rubber Gloves

Since stepping away from acting in 2014—her last onscreen appearance was in Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River—Mendes has been doing the mompreneur thing, and she’s leaning in hard. Her latest move? Expanding her lifestyle brand Skura Style x Eva Mendes, a line of kitchen cleaning products with the kind of glam packaging you wouldn’t be embarrassed to leave out on your countertop.

“I have my own packaging, which I’m just nuts for,” she gushed. “It was so fun designing that.”

Of course it was. If Martha Stewart and J.Lo had a design baby, it’d probably look something like Eva Mendes’ sponge line.

Summer, Slippers & Staying Present

When it comes to summer plans, Mendes isn’t chasing premieres or product launches. It’s all about downshifting with her daughters Esmeralda Amada (10) and Amada Lee (9)—and staying close to Gosling, who’s likely still riding the pink-tinted high of Barbie season.

“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.”

It’s a rare thing in Hollywood: a famous face who actually enjoys staying home, and means it. No notes.

So while Mendes might be off-screen these days, she’s definitely not out of frame. Whether it’s cleaning up with her kids, curating aesthetic sponge packaging, or keeping the kitchen Gosling-approved, she’s built a life that’s as stylish as it is real.

And somewhere in that spotless house? A man named Ryan is probably loading the dishwasher—with perfect form.

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Author Profile

Sneha Kashyap

Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald

Sneha Kashyap is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, specializing in the vibrant world of entertainment and contemporary lifestyle trends. A student at GGSIPU, Delhi, Sneha brings a fresh perspective and a keen eye for cultural narratives to her daily reporting. She is dedicated to exploring the latest in film, music, fashion, and social phenomena, offering readers insightful and engaging content.