It's time to dust away the cobwebs and get to work on your house, flat, yurt or caravan for your big 2008 spring clean! And to help you make this your greenest spring clean yet, we've rounded up some of the best eco-friendly cleaning products and asked consumers what they thought of them.
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Hippyshopper guide to your eco spring clean

Homes for happy hens: a roundup of chicken coops
You've seen the TV show, you've bought the t-shirt and are never going near another battery-reared chicken breast again. But what more can you do to ensure a good life for chickens? The next step is adopting your own. Here's our roundup of chicken coops for your garden.

Hippyshopper's Top 10 Green and Ethical Blogs
Hippyshoppe
r count down the Top 10 best green and ethical blogs on the web for 2007.

Green and ethical gifts for men
Men's presents are always the toughest to find, aren't they? I've got all my female relatives' and friend's presents already wrapped and ready to go, but there's still those pesky boys to think about. But once I started looking, I was soon brimming with ideas and with a bit of luck, our roundup of green and ethical gifts for men will help you out too.

The Green Christmas Tree Guide
There's nothing more festive than a fresh, fragrant fir tree in the house at Christmas. But how can you ensure your tree has been grown sustainably and will continue to contribute to life in a positive way once the decorations have come down? Check out this article for some tips on how to source and care for the greenest tree you'll ever have.

Can you spot greenwash?
We're all aware that the claims to greenness made by many companies are at best, exaggerated, but how clued up are we really about being tricked into buying eco-friendly products that are anything but?

We Love Carnaby Street's Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations!
see a video of Carnaby Street's dazzling, totally eco-friendly giant paperchains currently causing a stir in London's West End.

Would you let a 4x4 destroy a friendship?
What would yo
u do if a good friend committed a major green crime? How far would they have to go before you cut them off completely? Read about one environmentalist's dilemma brought about by her friend's polluting purchase, and tell us whether you think we have the right to judge other people's actions.

How to evict toxic chemicals from your home
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!

Top 10 cutting comebacks for eco-sceptics
Fed up with climate change deniers bombarding you with those annoying questions? Bored of defending Al Gore? Check out our top 10 comebacks and you'll win any eco-themed argument!


Will bad-tasting milk really save the planet?
I'm no scientist, but I always thought UHT stood for 'ultra high temperature', a belief that a quick google-search backs up. So I can't help being sceptical from the start about the government claim that switching from fresh to UHT milk would benefit the environment.

Sim City gets its own windfarm

Nothing is real until it's been immortalised in Sim City (or the Simpsons) and climate change has now had a namecheck in both. I think we can call that progress!

Gareth Kane on Bush's Green Shoots
As the world's favourite eco-bogeyman declares himself the saviour of the planet, Gareth Kane asks if we can take the new Green George Bush seriously.

Top 5 green ways to keep warm this winter
Tempted to touch that thermostat yet? Don't do it! At least, not until you've seen our list of eco friendly tips for keeping warm.

Get clear skin and possibly cancer? Petition for Clearasil to clean up its act.
It's hard enough being a teenager with acne, without suddenly being told the products you're smearing all over your face could give you cancer. In the US The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics is urging consumers to demand that Clearasil clean up their act and remove potentially harmful ingredients from their products.

Crafting for Charity: Top 5 projects
Crafting for a cause is something we're seeing more and more of, so if you'd like to do good every time you pick up your needles, penknife or glue-gun, check out our list of charity craft projects that are currently active.

The Green Central Heating Guide
Even if you have an A rated energy efficient boiler, if it’s running too hot or for too long, or when people are not in the house, energy is being wasted. Follow these guidelines on how to keep the heat down at home.

Green Facebook applications
If like most internet users (or, indeed, planet dwellers) you're now resident on Facebook, you'll probably be getting pretty tired of being turned into a zombie, fending off stalkers and poking your friends. So why not use this almighty resource as a force for good?

Are 'green tips' worth the paper they're printed on?
Given that stand-by switches and plastic bags are responsible for a very small part of our carbon footprint, Gareth Kane considers whether eco-living hints are worth the paper they're written on.

Is the new 'Future Friendly' logo just greenwash?
Last week, Sir Trevor McDonald and some leading environmental groups launched a new label - 'future friendly' - to appear on certain products, helping consumers do their bit for the environment. But reading between the lines, many have accused the scheme of being 'greenwash' what do you think?

Jason Bruges and Greenpeace team up for spectacular energy-efficient light show
A new art installation aims to show us that far from being the dodgy, over-bright things we're used to, the new generation of energy-efficient lightbulbs can be things of beauty.

How to make your own dog (or snake) draught excluder
If you'd like to cut down on your carbon emissions and save a few pennies this winter, why not start thinking now about making some fun and useful draft excluders for your home? Free pattern here.

Organic Fortnight: Is organic better for health?
In the second day of Organic Fortnight, we look at the ways organic food could be better for your health.

Does organic really taste better? Your say
Hippyshopper asked a few punters whether they prefer the taste of organic, to kick off organic fortnight

Non-Global Warming: Electric solutions to central heating
Katie Lee has been trying out a greener solution to central heating. In this video she explains how her electric radiators have been great for her energy bill as well as doing wonders for the planet.

Could Asteroid Armageddon be on the cards in 2036?
Armageddon could be hitting the Earth in 2036, and it’s not because of global warming. British space scientists and engineers have submitted a proposal for a mission to help divert an asteroid that could potentially collide with Earth.

RSPCA announces shortlist for Good Business Awards
On 11th October, the RSPCA will be holding an award ceremony to recognise businesses that take a positive stance on animal welfare at every level. And today, it announced the shortlist of companies nominated for the black tie gala which will take place at the Natural History Museum.

Video Review: Hippy deodorants that won't make you smell
Looking for an aluminium-free deodorant that won't mess with your social life? We tested all of the top selling brands...

Book review: Green is the New Black by Tamsin Blanchard
Is it possible to be green and glamorous at the same time? If you'd like to believe so, you'll be interested in a new title out tomorrow, featuring all sorts of tips on how to enjoy a fun and stylish life without wrecking too much Liz Hurley style havoc. I'm someone who normally runs a mile at the word 'celebrity' so was surprised when this book proved a good read!

Fat in bread? We don't kneed it, says Howie's 'd'oh' boy!
It's hard enough trying to stay healthy in this age of fast food without our staples being filled full of fat. That's why Howies have invented Doh Boy...an unlikely looking superhero whose mission is to stop our bread manufacturers filling the simple loaf with nasty fats! Join him in the campaign for removing unnecessary fats from our daily slices.