Downy, Venus Williams team up for Rinse & Refresh campaign
Downy has announced it is teaming up with tennis champion and entrepreneur Venus Williams to showcase its laundry odor remover, Rinse & Refresh. From workout fits, sports uniforms, and sweat towels to athleisure and all other washable fabrics, Downy Rinse & Refresh works to fight odor in just one wash, guaranteed, the company said.
"Those who work out or play a sport know what it means to sweat, which leads to stink that sometimes lingers even after washing your fabrics," says Mike Hartman, senior brand director, North America at Downy. “Teaming up with one of the greatest tennis champions of all time shines a light on the intense role of sweat in athletic performance, and how Downy Rinse & Refresh is trusted to fight odor. The essential fabrics work as hard as you do, and Downy Rinse & Refresh tackles the sweat in just one wash, guaranteed.”
[Read more: Downy Rinse & Refresh targets tough odors]
Downy reports that 1 in 3 households say they suffer from an odor problem when it comes to their laundry and 1 out of 4 consumers rewash at least half of their loads to get rid of stubborn smells. Downy Rinse & Refresh is safe for all clothes and recommended to use on fabrics with stubborn odor and residue. It works differently than laundry detergent and fabric softener to penetrate fibers and break down the source of deep-set odor versus covering it up, per the brand.
“Tennis can get really sweaty, so my outfits and sweat towel are essential for managing perspiration, which helps me maintain a firm grip on my racquet, see clearly and stay cool as possible. Clean fabrics can make a major difference in my performance,” says Venus Williams, tennis champion. “I’m a huge fan of Downy Rinse & Refresh for rinsing away the odor and residue from my sweatiest fabrics. The crisp, refreshing Cool Cotton scent is my favorite and I love that it’s free of dyes and heavy perfumes, making it gentle on sensitive skin.”
[Read more: Olay launches Indulgent Moisture Body Wash ]
To help launch the Downy ‘Rinse It Out’ campaign, the brand has partnered with influencers across social platforms and released a TV spot. A Downy Rinse It Out pop-up will be held at Flatiron Plaza in New York City on Sept. 4 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. and Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., giving consumers an opportunity to receive product samples, personalize and take home a fresh sweat towel and participate in a ‘Sweat & Serve’ challenge to measure how they match up to Venus Williams’ fastest tennis serve.
Downy Rinse & Refresh Cool Cotton is available at retailers nationwide and is available in Fresh Lavender, Ocean Mist and Active Fresh scents.