Exhibit 5 
  
  
                               March 30, 1998 
  
  
  
 Stanhome Inc. 
 333 Western Avenue 
 Westfield, MA  01085 
  
      RE:  Stanhome Inc. 
           Registration Statement on Form S-8 
  
 Ladies and Gentlemen: 
  
      I am the Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Stanhome
 Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), and am issuing this
 opinion in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 being
 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
 "Commission") on or about March 30, 1998 (the "Registration Statement") for
 the purpose of registering with the Commission under the Securities Act of
 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), 100,000 shares (the "Shares") of common
 stock of the Company, par value $.125 per share, issuable upon the exercise
 of options granted under the 1997 President and Chief Executive Officer
 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). 
  
      In this connection, I have examined and am familiar with originals or
 copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of (i) the
 Registration Statement, (ii) the Plan, (iii) the Restated Articles of
 Organization and the By-laws of the Company, as amended, each as currently
 in effect, and (iv) certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors
 of the Company relating to the Plan and certain other related matters, and
 such other documents, certificates and records as I have deemed necessary
 or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.  In such
 examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal
 capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to
 me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents
 submitted to me as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the
 authenticity of the originals of such copies.  As to any facts material to
 the opinions expressed herein which I have not independently established or
 verified, I have relied upon statements and representations of other
 officers and representatives of the Company and others regarding, among
 other things, the compliance with all provisions of the Plan. 
  
      I am admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and do
 not purport to be an expert on, or express any opinion concerning, any law
 other than the substantive law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
  
      Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the
 Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and, when the Shares have
 been paid for and certificates therefor have been issued and delivered upon
 exercise of options in accordance with the terms of the Plan as
 contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Shares will be validly
 issued, fully paid and nonassessable. 
  
      I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
 Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit
 that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under
 Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
 promulgated thereunder. 
  
      This opinion is furnished by me, as counsel to the Company, in
 connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and, except as
 provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, is not to be used,
 circulated or quoted for any other purpose or otherwise referred to or
 relied upon by any other person without the express written permission of
 the Company. 
  
                               Very truly yours, 
  
  

                               /S/ Bruce H. Wyatt
                               -------------------------- 
                               Bruce H. Wyatt