Thanks for the Clean Clothes, Mom

When you put two determined moms together a lot can happen! Suzanne Boyd and Kristine Fears combined creativity, motherhood and a practical need into a purpose-driven business – Thanks Mom Co. These women are moms, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers who saw a common household frustration of getting stains out of laundry and created a simple and effective laundry stain stick called Mary’s Stain Remover. Suzanne and Kristine gave a behind-the-scenes peek into launching a product. They’ll tell us how they balance family life with entrepreneurship, what inspired the creation of their stain stick and, yes, their very best laundry tips.

TK: What inspired you to create Mary’s Stain Remover?

Suzanne: A big part of this story is my mom, Mary. She was the kind of mom who just knew how to fix things—whether it was a tough stain or a broken heart. After she passed away unexpectedly two years ago, I found myself craving purpose and a way to carry her legacy forward. I ended up going back to my pharmacy job, but I just knew I wanted my career to feel more personal and something that felt like carrying her with me.

Kristine: Around the same time, I was going through a really hard season in my personal life. I made the hardest decision of my life to become a single mom and start over. Soon after that huge life transition, the idea for a silicone-based washboard for stains popped into my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and Suzanne was the first person I talked with about it. We both felt a strong sense that this was something worth building—not just a product, but a purpose-driven business. 

TK: How did the idea go from concept to creation?

Suzanne: The concept was rooted in a tip my mom had shared years ago—she kept a simple bar of laundry soap by the sink and used it to scrub out stains. It worked so well. We took that idea, added an innovative scrubber that mimics the power of a washboard (without tearing your clothes), and made it mess-free for your hands. We got to work making the soap recipe in Kristine’s kitchen. It was messy and real, and somehow just right. We started small, testing it with friends. Pretty quickly, it became something people were asking for. From there, we got serious about manufacturing, packaging and building a brand that moms could trust.

Kristine: We named it Mary’s Stain Remover in honor of Suzanne’s Mom. Even our logo is in her handwriting—traced from letters she wrote Suzanne. It’s our way of keeping her with us on this journey and bringing that same kind of care to other families. For both of us, this business has turned pain into purpose. And we hope that every time a mom uses our product, she feels a little more supported—whether she’s scrubbing spaghetti sauce off a shirt or just trying to get through a messy season of life.

TK: As moms, how do you juggle the demands of family and work life while building and running a start-up?

S & K: It’s not always balanced, but we’ve learned to lean into the chaos. We both have kids and very full lives, so we give each other grace and lots of flexibility. Some weeks are work-heavy, others are family-heavy, and we just keep showing up for both as best as we can. And coffee helps. A lot.

TK: As business partners and best friends, is there a secret to how you divide responsibilities in this business?

S & K: We have been best friends for over a decade—our friendship started as a prayer partnership when we were both hoping to get pregnant. We ended up having our firstborns just five days apart! Our kids have grown up like siblings and so have we—walking through motherhood and life’s ups and downs side by side. So, we have been through a lot together. We have learned how to communicate with honesty and trust each other deeply. That is a huge reason this partnership works as well as it does.

Day to day, we divide responsibilities by playing into each other’s strengths. Suzanne is amazing at design and product development. Kristine thrives in making connections and running the operations. But at the end of the day, we both roll up our sleeves and do whatever needs doing. We’re aligned in our values, and we trust each other. That’s the real secret.

TK: What lessons have you learned from motherhood that you’ve applied to your business (and vice versa)?

S & K: Motherhood teaches you to problem-solve on the fly, prioritize what matters and keep your sense of humor—skills we use daily in our business. And from the business side, we’ve learned how to delegate, ask for help and keep moving even when things don’t go as planned. Plans change, kids get sick, and you figure it out anyway. That resilience has served us well as entrepreneurs. We’ve learned to show up even when things aren’t perfect, to make decisions with limited time and resources, and to always look for teachable moments. We’re more confident moms because of the business, and stronger business owners because of motherhood.

TK: There are so many stain sticks on the market. What makes yours different?

S & K: We didn’t set out to compete with the big brands. We just wanted something that worked really well and didn’t make us worry about what was going on with our kids’ skin. Most stain sticks either have ingredients we couldn’t pronounce or just didn’t work. Ours is made with clean ingredients and includes a scrub base, so you’re not digging through the laundry room for an old toothbrush.

Mary’s Stain Remover is made with only six clean, effective ingredients and a built-in scrub base that mimics the power of a washboard—without damaging fabric. Finally, something that is mess-free but with scrubbing power. It’s compact, easy to use and way more effective than anything we found on the shelves. And the best part? It was designed by moms who actually do laundry every day.

TK: Share more behind your give-back component.

S & K: Giving back is built into who we are. A portion of every sale goes to Crisis Pregnancy Outreach, which supports Tulsa-area women during unplanned pregnancy. We chose this organization because we’ve walked alongside women in our own lives who’ve adopted through CPO. We also walked with a woman who got unexpectedly pregnant, and CPO provided life-changing counseling, support and resources. We want our business to be a small part of helping other moms feel supported and seen, just like our own moms did for us.

TK: What’s your go-to laundry tip or hack that every parent needs to know?

Suzanne: Give your kids an assigned laundry day. At our house, each child brings their clothes to the laundry room on their day. I handle the washing, drying, folding, and stain-treating if needed, and they’re responsible for putting it all away. It keeps the piles manageable and teaches them to take ownership. Also, shake wet clothes out before putting them in the dryer. It saves so much time on ironing!

Kristine: Have your kids help! Even toddlers can learn to spot-treat their own clothes with Mary’s Stain Remover. It teaches responsibility and saves you time. I also try to do one load a day. Keeps a rhythm and keeps the laundry pile manageable.

TK: What advice would you give to other moms out there who have a business idea but aren’t sure where to start?

S & K: Start scrappy. Start small. Just start. Ask questions, talk to people and trust your instincts. You don’t need a fancy office or a business degree. You just need the courage to solve a problem and persistence to keep going. And if you can find a friend to do it with? Even better.

You don’t need to know everything or have experience before you begin. We learned as we went and believe it’s important to use what you have, where you are. The best ideas often come from solving a problem in your own life, and chances are, if it’s helping you, it’ll help someone else, too. And surround yourself with people who believe in you. We couldn’t have done this without each other and a handful of supporters cheering loudly behind the scenes.

TK: When you’re not working, what do your families enjoy doing around the Tulsa area?

Suzanne: We love being outdoors, and Turkey Mountain is a favorite for hikes. It is constantly changing and improving! I ran the Route 66 Marathon last year, and my whole family came out to cheer me on. It was such a fun day. We’re also big fans of Braum’s for burgers and ice cream.

Kristine: The Tulsa Zoo is always a hit with my crew—from seeing all the amazing animals and going to the Nature Exchange there. The Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks was always another favorite of my kids as they were growing up, especially the shark tunnel and the hands-on exhibits. On quieter days, we love heading to Hunter Park. We go to explore the forest, feed the ducks, fish, and just slow down a bit as a family.

If you’re interested in hearing the full interview with Suzanne and Kristine, including how they dealt with unexpected challenges in their business, check out the Sharing Passion and Purpose Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform.

You can connect with Suzanne and Kristine online at thanksmomco.com; Instagram: @thanks_mom_co

Nancy A. Moore is a Public Relations Coordinator at Montreau, Adjunct Professor at Tulsa Community College, and has been writing for TulsaKids for almost 20 years.