Want to cut down on the potentially harmful chemicals that can easily build up at home? Here are some simple steps you can take to make your home a toxin-free haven!

• Bleach is a powerful corrosive substance, so try to use it very sparingly, if you use it at all. The sort that contains phosphates can upset the balance of natural systems in rivers and lakes, so you should always try to buy phosphate-free varieties, e.g Selden ACT toilet cleaner. Alternatively, white distilled vinegar can be used to disinfect, clean and deodorize. But be warned: NEVER use bleach and vinegar together, as the two can cause a reaction releasing toxic chlorine gas.

• When decorating, always buy the right amount of paint for the job. Alternatively, choose a paint that does not contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), like the range from Oliver Heath. VOCs are solvents that evaporate during use (hence the horrible smell associated with painting), can damage the environment and affect human health. B&Q has introduced a handy labelling system that tells you a product's 'VOC count'. There's some great info on the nasties found in paint here, as well as some great tips on where to dispose of old tins if you do over-buy.

Tomorrow (November 1st) is World Vegan Day. A number of organisations are planning events on or around the day itself - and if you want to help raise the profile of veganism even more, or indeed if there's simply nothing much going on around where you live, there are plenty of things you can organise yourself. For event details, and suggestions for campaigning activities, ActiVeg.org has a handy page here.

Don't forget that the whole of next month is also Vegan Month, so if you can't manage to sort anything out for tomorrow, you've still got plenty of time to organise the necessary resources to set up a literature stall, or leaflet local businesses. For even more campaigning tips, I would suggest that you order yourself a Vegan Society activist pack.

One organisation which is going all-out in recognition of World Vegan Day is cosmetics company Lush, whose staff are all adopting a vegan diet for the day - with some braver employees even planning to don giant vegetable outfits! Vegetarian campaigning group Viva! has also offered its support, and has sent Vegan Starter Packs to every Lush store, as well as setting up a helpline for Lush staff who want more information on following a vegan lifestyle. Lush products - although not all vegan - are guaranteed vegetarian and cruelty free, so with any luck this move will persuade a number of their already veggie workforce to go a step further! It would be nice, too, to think that this could be a sign that Lush may one day feel inclined to eschew entirely the honey and milk-based ingredients it uses in some of its products, and finally offer an entirely vegan product range.

Alpacas aren't just cute and slightly ridiculous-looking beasts; they have uses too. In fact, in some parts of the world, their presence is vital.

With this in mind, Practical Presents is inviting you to buy a friend or family member one wooly jumper they won't want to throw away. For £50, you can purchase an alpaca for a family in Peru, where the animals are a crucial part of the community. In the freezing andes, they provide a constant source of highly nutritious milk, and their wool can be sold by families struggling to make ends meet. And in a climate of -35 degrees, they also offer vital insulation.

So why not make this generous gift on behalf of a loved one? They may not get to meet their shaggy friend, but they will receive a rather splendid alpaca finger puppet...

Think carefully before you toss your trusty mobile aside; it could soon be being handed to you as your wedding ring!

A unique jewllery range, made by Australian designer Nic Cerrone, uses recycled mobile phone components to create unusual and striking pieces. His range is currently being auctioned here, and includes a men's ring and necklace, women's necklace, bracelet, earrings and cufflinks.

Rose Read, manager of Aussie mobile recycling program MobileMuster said she hoped the move would encourage more people to recycle their old handsets.

Related: 5 ways to recycle your mobile phone

Heads up, shopaholics: if you're looking for another online store boasting green credentials, Smartly Green opened its doors this week with oodles of respected and well known names on board. You'll find all kinds of objects of desire here, from clothes and accessories to mobile phones and toys.

Now, seeing as almost every high street store I can think of seems to be represented here (including a smattering from Arcadia and Tesco) I can't comment on how ethical site is.

The art of excluding draughts is alive and well at ECOutlet.

These vintage print door snakes will keep you safe from the wind and the cold and increase energy efficiency in the home. And because they look so lovely, they'd make great gifts too. Made from recycled fabric and stuffed with biodegradable buckwheat husks, they're about as green as it gets. Available online at £19.99.

I'm willing to bet there haven't been many examples of the Big Apple following the example of a tiny English village, but rumour has it that New York is set to go the way of Modbury and crack down on plastic bag usage.

While an all-out ban seems optimistic, a proposal was introduced on Monday that requires all stores larger than 5,000 square feet to set up an in-store recycling program and sell reusable bags.

Kew Gardens, at its most beautiful in autumnal splendour, unveiled a brand new attraction today: an 18-metre high walkway that will let visitors walk in the treetops. It won't be opening till May 2008, but I went along this morning for a sneak preview.

Designed by the team behind the London Eye, a visit to the 'Xtrasa Treetop Walkway' will certainly be a thrilling experience, with some truly breathtaking views. But it is also intended to get people closer to nature and more aware of the importance of trees as the 'lungs' of our planet.

I just had to share these wonderful vintage plates I found, just as an example of how quirky and bizarre vintage finds can be. Imagine dining on the seven deadly sins! It's certainly more interesting than anything I've seen in Ikea lately.

This set, 'recycled' because the plates have been pimped by Vandalized Vintage on Etsy, is one of many quirky designs you can buy online. Or, you could always put your own spin on old china: all it takes is a trip to the junk shop, a bit of imagination and some ceramic paint...

[Via Great Green Goods]

Primark, birthplace of the £4 jeans, has been officially named as the UK's 'least ethical clothes shop' in a study by Ethical Consumer magazine. Hardly a surprise to anyone whose ever spared a moment's thought on how they get their prices so low, but it's worth bearing these facts in mind when you find yourself tempted by bargains on the high street.

On a scale that measures workers' rights, whether the chain deals with oppressive regimes and other ethical issues, Primark scored a meagre 2.5 out of a possible 20. But proving that low cost doesn't have to mean low morals, Matalan -- another discount clothing store -- came out with one of the highest ratings.

Ever feel bad about how much you spend on clothes? Stylish ethical label Tam & Rob can help, as every time you buy an item of clothing from their range, they'll donate a new sari to a destitute woman. The scheme is in operation between now and Christmas, with all benefits going to Social Action for Association and Development (SAAD).

The charity also provides literacy and skills training to some of the world’s most vulnerable women, as the label’s own ethos is also to increase opportunities for disadvantaged groups. The women trained by SAAD are social outcasts and victims of abuse. The new saris donated by Tam & Rob will benefit these women as they start their new lives and careers supported by SAAD.

Tam & Rob has stringent ethical standards for its manufacturing process, even going as far as producing videos on their producers' working conditions. The current range is a sharp, sassy collection with an oriental twist, and with prices between £18 and £180, it's well worth having a look.

A new British study has found that many organic products contain higher antioxidant levels, adding further weight to the theory that organic is healthier.

The four-year, £12m study has shown a clear, general trend showing that organic foods contain more of these health-promoting substances. Earlier in the year, similar research proved that organic tomatoes had a significantly higher flavenoid content; a substance that has been shown to fight some types of heart disease and cancer. But the new study goes further, showing benefits to organic fruit, milk and vegetables of all types.

If you're a big fan of the Camden Green Fair (it would be hard not to be, really - I know I've always had a great time there!), and you wouldn't mind being a bit more involved next time round, then it's time to visit the website and get registered as a volunteer. The organising committee are on the lookout for people to get involved in the weekly Steering Group meetings in the run up to the fair, as well as approximately 60 volunteers to help on the day - including models of all shapes and sizes to model in the fashion show! Volunteer places are limited, and running out fast - hence I am posting this quite a way in advance of the actual fair, which doesn't take place until the 3rd of June - so it's a good idea to get in touch with them as soon as you can.

You can find out more about the fair and its history from www.camdengreenfair.org.uk.

Related: Green things to do this weekend

This weekend I had one of those moments where it dawned on me that everything in the house was filthy. My clothes, bedclothes and towels that is, had not been washed for some time, and were starting to spawn ecosystems of their own (TMI!)

I was clean out of washing powder, except for the Simply Active eco-friendly washing tablets I'd agreed to test for Nigel's Eco Store. And if I'm honest, for a brief moment, I panicked! Would such a natural, gentle product really sort out my overly-lived-in laundry?