---
title: 'It''s an old American custom: keep clean. Take a bath every day you can'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/keep-clean-old-american-custom-1944/
description: 'Army hygiene poster: three soldiers wash in a jungle field shower rigged from a drum and timber, one naked under the water, two bare-chested with towels.'
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. It's an old American custom: keep clean. Take a bath every day you can

**Content note:** Painted illustration of three soldiers washing outdoors, two bare-chested and one fully nude seen from behind. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![It's an old American custom: keep clean. Take a bath every day you can, 1944 US poster: Army hygiene poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/keep-clean-old-american-custom-1944.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/keep-clean-old-american-custom-1944.jpg)

# It's an old American custom: keep clean. Take a bath every day you can

Army hygiene poster: three soldiers wash in a jungle field shower rigged from a drum and timber, one naked under the water, two bare-chested with towels, smiling. The caption calls bathing 'an old American custom', framing the order as ordinary habit shared by the men depicted (plain-folks).

## 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

```
It's an Old American Custom
KEEP CLEAN
THESE
GUYS RIGGED
UP THIS SHOWER
48 HOURS AFTER
MAKING A
BEACH-HEAD
Take a bath every day you can
[imprint:] Distribution: Continental: In accordance with Part II, ASF Cir. No. 313, 1944 and Section I, ASF Cir. No. 181, 1944. Overseas: T of Opns (10), Depts (10), SvC (10), Base Comds (10), Island Comds (10), Def Comds (10), Sectors (10), Base Sectors (10), Armies (1); Corps (1); D (1); R (1); Sep Bn (1).
[imprint:] ☆ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944—O—619219
[imprint:] Approved War Department Graphic Training Aid 8-1
WAR DEPARTMENT · 10 OCTOBER 1944
Reproduction without permission prohibited
```

[← Keep cigarettes and matches out of trash container](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/keep-cigarettes-and-matches-out-of-trash-container-1944/) [Keep fire doors clear! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/keep-fire-doors-clear-1944/)

## 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)