Baking soda paste gets most cooler stains out.

Yes, you can get those stains out — usually with baking soda.

Tomatoes and berries leave behind tannins and pigments that bond to plastic. A paste of baking soda and water (3:1 ratio) scrubbed in with a soft sponge lifts most of it. Let it sit for 15 minutes first if the stain is set in. Rinse thoroughly.

For the stubborn ones — especially tomato — try hydrogen peroxide. Spray it on, let it fizz for a few minutes, then scrub. Sunlight also works as a natural bleach, so leave the cooler open in direct sun for a few hours.

Bleach is overkill and leaves a smell that plastic loves to hold onto. Avoid it unless you’re also sanitizing, and even then rinse multiple times.

Don’t stress if a faint shadow remains — coolers are meant for ice, not interior design.