Idea Vs. Ideal

I've heard a few people use 'Ideal' and never use the word 'Idea.' So, it must be regional ( I live in the South.)
I was wondering what the correct usage was, but something really threw me for a loop:
There is a line of feminine hygiene products that used to have the name 'Dry Idea' as the brand name.
Now I am seeing the same product being marketed as 'Dry Ideal.'
I thought 'Dry Ideal' sounded really weird for such an item and I wonder what prompted their marketing department to change it.

It really bugs me when people use the words "ideal" and "idea" wrong. With some people no matter how many times you correct them, they still use it wrong. We have an employee that ALWAYS says ideal instead of idea.

hahah, i used to have a teacher that would always say "ideal" in place of the word idea. We would sit in class and count how many times she would say it. Man, was she dumb.

"I have an idea" and "I have an ideal" are both correct sentences. But the meanings are quite different.

I have never heard anyone use the word ideal in place of idea. if you have you must have spoken to some dumb people!

CORRECT (noun):

"I have an ideal; that people be treated equally."

CORRECT (adjective):

"I have an ideal situation."

INCORRECT (noun):

"I have an ideal: let's go to White Castle!"

I've got a speech impediment and I can't say idea, it always comes out with the 'l' sound at the end. Of course I always though everyone else was saying ideal too so I didn't realize the difference until my freshman year at college when a proffesor pointed out I was using the wrong word. Mikahbot has the right definitions

Only illiterate people say ideal in place of idea.

I've heard it only from one person, but I heard it consistently from them, and they were decidedly using "ideal" in place of "idea"

Haven't heard ideal, but I have sometimes heard idear, which I always react to when I hear it.

i hear it alot.. but i live in the south and people talk funny. i always assumed ideal was wrong when i heard people say it but never knew for sure. i have always said idea.

Uh...okay. Saying that something is ideal means that whatever the subject is, it's perfect or is close to perfection. Example: Having a mustang [car] is ideal. [I think I was sort of right...] Idea is something that gets invented in your head, like "Ooh, I got an idea! Let's go to a movie!" You get it? Idea and Ideal are similar, but are used in different contexts. Idea is a noun, and ideal is more of an adjective.

I have not heard anyone use the word ideal in place of idea, however it does not surprise me. Prehaps they mistake the two completely different words to mean the same thing, but think that Ideal is just a more educated form of the word idea. Where would they get such an ideal? ;)