I have a dumb question about Tide detergent and sailors

A Navy wife told me something kind of kinky the other day. I was wondering if anyone could verify.

I was remarking that I thought a sailor's wife had a tough life what with her man being off to sea for long tours. While the sailor might have a girl in every port, his poor spouse would be waiting lonely at home.

Anyway, the woman I was talking to said the wives had a tradition of their own, that if a sailor saw a box of TIDE detergent sitting on the back of a pick-up truck in a driveway, he would know it was code for a Navy wife in need. And that any sailors far from home could knock at the door and receive comfort. Better one sailor than a bunch of strange men, she said.

Of course I made some flippant comment about the TIDE being out signaling that the fleet was out to sea. She said the Navy didn't approve of what she called "Crossdocking," but that didn't stop such practices. Afterwards I wondered about her claims.

Was she yanking my chain? Anyone know?

never heard about the box of Tide before. Everytime the carriers pulled out the bars were full of single women though.

but I was going to remember the TIDE part in case I ever got lonely. :)

... whenever a carrier had returned home.

But the bars did fill up.
And when my wife was pregnant with our first child, we overheard other women at the prenatal clinic talking about having cravings for Tide.