Fight the Moth - It's the moth grub that does the damage
A photographic and illustrated instruction sheet shows moth grubs under a magnifying glass and four household remedies: airing, brushing, ironing and beating. It is plain practical advice in everyday domestic imagery (plain folks), with no enemy or emotional appeal beyond the word 'fight'.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Board of Trade; printed for HMSO by Multi Machine Plates Ltd, London
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
Crown copyright (UK government), 1939-1945; U.S. National Archives, NAID 44266458, Local Identifier 44-PF-171.
Text on the object
FIGHT THE MOTH IT'S THE MOTH GRUB THAT DOES THE DAMAGE CLOTHES-MOTHS lay eggs. All the damage is done when the eggs hatch out into grubs, which feed on wool and fur exactly as caterpillars do on cabbage leaves. The only CERTAIN way to prevent your things from getting moth-eaten is to destroy the eggs and kill the grubs. AIR EVERYTHING in the sun at frequent intervals. Sun and Air kill the grubs and keep the moth away. BRUSH EVERYTHING thoroughly and often, especially in folds and seams. Shake well before brushing. IRON WITH A HOT IRON over a damp cloth after brushing; carpets can be treated in this way. BEAT HEAVY THINGS like blankets and rugs with a cane before airing. ISSUED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY MULTI MACHINE PLATES LTD. LONDON E.C.4. 51-3734 B.O.T. 1005
