---
title: Go easy on the hot water
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/go-easy-on-the-hot-water-army-1943/
description: 'Instruction poster on a green ground: three drawn nude male figures wetting, lathering and rinsing, each with an ON or OFF arrow.'
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Go easy on the hot water

**Content note:** Shows three drawn nude male figures from the front and back, with soap and spray partly covering them. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![Go easy on the hot water, 1943 US poster: Instruction poster on a green ground](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/go-easy-on-the-hot-water-army-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/go-easy-on-the-hot-water-army-1943.jpg)

# Go easy on the hot water

Instruction poster on a green ground: three drawn nude male figures wetting, lathering and rinsing, each with an ON or OFF arrow, beside a large shower head. The message is to turn the water off when not in use. The technique is faint: the ordinary routine of a shower is shown as the shared behaviour asked of every soldier.

## 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

```
GO EASY on the HOT WATER
ON
OFF
ON
WETTING
LATHERING
RINSING
TURN IT OFF
when you're
not using it!
[imprint:] OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS
[imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943—O-536590
[imprint:] ARMY CONSERVATION PROJECT NO. 35-E-9
[signature:] ks
SAVE
U.S. ARMY CONSERVATION PROGRAM
```

[← "Go Back to School!!"](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/go-back-to-school-alston-1943/) ["Going where we're needed most!" Join the WAC now! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/going-where-needed-most-join-the-wac-1943/)

## 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)