Canadians are softies for rough winter clothes

Recent survey reveals almost half of Canadians (41%) cite rough clothing as the leading skin irritant in the winter months

TORONTO, Dec. 1 /CNW/ - From winter wool sweaters to cozy scarves - the time has come for Canadians to bundle up and keep warm this winter. However, for the nearly half of Canadians (41%) who indicate that rough clothes are the leading skin irritant in the winter months, the cold weather means more than just extra layers. This winter, Ultra Downy Free & Sensitive is helping Canadians get the best of their winter wardrobe by offering outstanding cleaning and softening to care for even the roughest of winter woolens.

"As a mother I want to ensure that my family has the best care during the harsh Canadian winter months and that means making sure that the clothes that touch their skin are clean, comfortable and soft," says Maureen Dennis, Founder and President, Wee Welcome Inc.  "Whenever possible, I try to use perfume and dye free products like Ultra Downy Free & Sensitive, as I know it is dermatologist tested and will keep my family's winter wear exceptionally soft."

In Canada, wintertime means wearing more clothing and protecting our skin from the harsh climates. But, as we're bundling up to keep warm, we should also think about how to best care for our garments. To help Canadians get through the harsh winter weather with their wardrobes intact, here are a few other interesting fabric and clothing care tips and tidbits:

Freshen Up Your Winter Wear	As you unpack your winter clothes, be sure to air out or consider washing those items that have been stored for the year. TIP: If you're looking for a dye and perfume free option when laundering your clothes, try Downy Free & Sensitive - it is dermatologist tested and offers outstanding cleaning and softening.
On The Mend	Your winter wardrobe may have gone through some wear and tear in the last season. Be sure to have a good look through last year's clothes and try to sew, patch and mend items that you truly love. TIP: For fine fabrics it is worth the investment to take garments to a tailor who may be able to repair items that might be costly to replace.
Trim The Wardrobe Fat	Winter clothes are bulky and take up a lot of space - be sure to purge your wardrobe of anything you haven't worn in over a year and think of donating to a local charitable organization. TIP: Ensure clothes are at their best before donating by washing with Tide Free & Gentle - it is made without dyes and perfumes and provides a great clean that's gentle on skin.
Pack the Stack	Hanging sweaters can leave your favourite woolens misshapen or damaged due to the weight of winter wools. Be sure to fold and stack your sweaters in a cool, dry place to help keep them looking like new. TIP: Ensure winter wools are as soft as possible by using a dye and perfume free fabric softener such as Ultra Downy Free & Sensitive.

For more tips on laundry and fabric care and information on perfume and dye free products visit www.tide.ca.

About Tide®
For 60 years, Tide has been caring for the clothes of Canadian families and helping to provide the everyday miracle of clean clothing. Please visit www.tide.ca for helpful product information, practical tips on laundry care, special offers and promotions, updated fabric care articles, and an interactive Stain Detective, which provides official Tide stain removal solutions.

About Procter & Gamble
Four billion times a day, P&G (NYSE:PG) brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About the Survey
The survey was conducted by TNS Canada on behalf of Procter & Gamble's Tide Free & Gentle liquid laundry detergent. For the study, a national sample of Canadian men and women was randomly selected from TNS Canada's Internet research panel and invited to complete an online survey.  In total, 1388 consumers completed the questionnaire between [9/2/10] and [9/7/10].  The survey data were weighted to reflect the demographic composition of the Canadian population aged 18 years and older.

For further information:

Victoria Maybee, P&G Fabric Care │416-730-4793│[email protected]
Stephanie Hutchinson, Optimum PR│416-306-6795│[email protected]