---
title: Don't wreck it! It's your latrine
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dont-wreck-it-its-your-latrine-1945/
description: 'Army conservation sheet for posting in latrines: four cartoon figures are shown clogging a bowl, breaking a faucet, breaking a mirror and kicking a valve.'
section: Collection
---

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3. Don't wreck it! It's your latrine

[![Don't wreck it! It's your latrine, 1945 US poster: Army conservation sheet for posting in latrines](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/dont-wreck-it-its-your-latrine-1945.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/dont-wreck-it-its-your-latrine-1945.jpg)

# Don't wreck it! It's your latrine

Army conservation sheet for posting in latrines: four cartoon figures are shown clogging a bowl, breaking a faucet, breaking a mirror and kicking a valve, each with a short 'don't' label. The technique is faint here; the sheet relies on humorous cartoon plain-folks figures and the line 'it's your latrine' to appeal to servicemen's ownership of shared facilities.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
don't wreck it!
DON'T CLOG THE BOWL
DON'T BREAK THE FAUCET
DON'T BREAK THE MIRROR
DON'T KICK THE VALVE
it's your latrine
DISTRIBUTION: AAF (5); AGF (5); ASF (2); Sv C (Conservation Off) (2); C (5); S (5); (No overseas distribution).
POST IN ALL LATRINES
[imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1945-O-633222
Army Conservation Project No. 141-E-32
U.S. ARMY SAVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM
```

[← Dig down deep! Buy twice as many Bonds in the mighty 7th War Loan](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dig-down-deep-7th-war-loan-1945/) [Egghead plays with dynamite! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/egghead-plays-with-dynamite-1945/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)