Eva Mendes isn’t afraid to admit that she’s no clean freak, which means sometimes her kitchen is “a mess”—“definitely a reflection of me feeling a bit chaotic or scattered,” she tells SELF with a laugh.
Between taking care of her two young kids and co-owning a sponge company, Skura Style, Mendes knows the struggle of juggling a ton of responsibilities all too well. On extra-busy days (or weeks…), finding the time and energy to tidy up can feel impossible. But she still tries to make an effort—even if her space doesn’t look spotless 24/7. “I’ve always felt like the kitchen, and specifically its state, was symbolic of my inner state,” Mendes said. “So keeping things clean and somewhat organized is how I feel my best.”
So, how does she summon the motivation? Which chores does she split with Ryan? And are there any strategies that help her keep it together as a busy mom? We asked her all about her cleaning and self-care routine—and we’re happy to report that her answers were refreshingly relatable.
How she learned to see cleaning the kitchen as a ‘positive thing to enjoy’
“I’m Cuban. I’m first generation, and my mom, my sisters, my aunts are all very connected to the house, specifically the kitchen and doing the dishes. And so I grew up seeing doing the dishes, specifically, as a positive thing to enjoy.
You can make an experience out of it: Turn up some Latin music, and then you clean. I grew up with the scent of Pine Sol and Fabuloso—every Latin American family has it. It’s this cleaning solvent that has a specific smell. But anyway, cleaning was just a huge part of my upbringing.”
The ritual that makes washing dishes actually…fun?
“I’m somewhat of an insomniac. So no matter how tired I am, once the kids are put to bed, it’s kind of like my time. I’ll do the dishes then, and I’ll listen to a podcast if I’m not listening to music. But music is the best to get me going—specifically Cuban music. It could be literally anything—something that’s nostalgic to something that’s new.
Right now, if I’m doing the dishes at nighttime, I do a podcast. I like The Mel Robbins Podcast. She’s so inspiring. By the time I’m done with the kitchen, I’m like, ‘I’ve learned something!’ And if I’m doing them during the day, I can listen to anything from Celia Cruz to Doja Cat. Obviously, Doja Cat is only when the kids are in school.
But I hate taking the trash out. I don’t like it. I do it when I have to, but that’s the one thing I don’t like to do. I know it sounds very gender specific, and I don’t want to fall into that stereotype, but it smells! I’m super sensitive to smell. I haven’t unpacked this with my therapist yet—but I’m sure it’s not that deep.”
How she got into the sponge business in the first place
“During the pandemic, I was one of those people who took [cleaning] to the extreme. Like, I was washing my fruit and everything. But I still needed to find the perfect sponge.