The white part of toothpaste is mainly made up of finely powdered chalk – so it actually becomes a good cleaning agent.

* Clean smudges and scratches from your CDs. Rub on some non-gel toothpaste, then remove with a damp cloth. It may leave a few scratches on the CD – but these won’t affect the sound.

* Shine metals. Put the paste on a soft brush or cloth to clean silverware, copper, gold and jewellery. Always rinse afterwards.

* Hang posters. Just put a dab of toothpaste on each corner and press against the wall. When you take it down you just wipe away the dried paste.

* Clean your hands. If you’ve been cooking something with an intense odour, like garlic or fish, then get rid of the smell by washing them with toothpaste.

* Clean white leather. If those expensive new shoes are looking mucky, try using white, non-gel toothpaste.

How to cram four hours worth of work into 60 minutes...

    * There are days when you feel you’ve been working like the clappers, only to discover you’ve achieved very little, and that mountain of tasks that was there in the morning is barely dented.

      Here are six ways to help you focus on what’s important and get things done:

      * Stop drifting through the day. If you’ve been at a job for some time, you are bound to have developed a routine you simply slip into the moment you sit down. So, before you start ANYTHING, take stock of what needs doing, what you want to achieve in that day, and how you’re going to do it. Make a list of anything you need to help you finish your work, and make another list of the actual chores themselves.

      * If you’re at the office late every night, it’s a sign you’re doing something wrong. Your work methods have become so unproductive that you need to sit at your desk for 14 hours to do a 7 hour job. So do yourself a favour… pack up EARLY one day and take yourself off to a favourite spot. Think about what you are doing, plan the next day, and don’t try and do it all at once! Make a reasonable list of work you’d like to have finished by the end of the next day, and really think about how you’re going to do it.

      * Take a look at your desk. Is it overflowing with papers and files? This is an immediate downer. The minute you walk in you have a visual reference that says I HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO! You’ll feel pressured from the off, and your work will suffer. But think about it, when was the last time you actually looked through all that stuff? If it was so important someone would have been screaming for it by now. So spend the time to order all your paperwork – and be ruthless. Bin anything that you never refer to.

      * Stop thinking the office revolves around you. If you think you’re indispensable, you’re in big trouble. Don’t take on every last bit of work given to you because you feel you’re the only one capable of doing it. If you take on too much, you’ll squeeze all your existing deadlines, and work will suffer. So if you don’t have time to do something, say no. Same with meetings. Stop thinking it will be only half as useful if you’re not there. Pick the meetings that directly affect the work you’re doing, and cut back on the ones that merely talk around sketchy future ideas in large, ponderous circles.

      * Build in an extra day at the end of each holiday… on your email auto-responder or your voice mail, say you will be away for a day longer than is actually true. This will stop you from getting swamped with calls and queries the moment you’re back, and will allow you to catch up and organise your time accordingly.

In the name of wealth, happiness and success!

Pascale Barrow
Managing Editor of Personal & Finance Confidential