HOUSE PLANTS may be more than just decorative assets in the home,

according to NASA scientists. Research reveals that they may not only

give a psychological lift but also filter pollutants from the air. And

among the most effective anti-pollutants are the humble spider plant and

mother-in-law's tongue.

Marks & Spencer say they are approaching peak-time plant sales, with

February as their top-selling month.

The easiest plants to care for are the Victorians' favourite, the

aspidistra, and peace lily. Cacti can look effective in groups of four

or more placed in rustic pottery baskets available from most flower and

garden centres.

Danger in the kitchen

HOMEOWNERS planning new kitchens are being urged to pay more heed to

safety, following revelations that more than 200,000 people are taken to

hospital every year after accidents in the kitchen.

A report in the Consumer Association magazine Which warns houseowners

NOT to:

* Site hobs by windows with curtains or blinds, or underneath wall

units.

* Fit wall units with doors which open far beyond worktops.

* Save on electrical sockets, or fit them near sinks or hobs.

* Place hobs near doors, or fit the cooker hood too close to the hob.

Fitting or altering a kitchen can be the most expensive home

improvement, say the CA, but safety-conscious moves need not make it

more expensive.

The report urges home improvers to shop around for several estimates

from kitchen companies and local joiners. Strengthen your bargaining

position by never letting the companies know how much you intend to

spend or they may conveniently tailor the kitchen to you price. Ask

neighbours for opinions on work they may have had completed.

Plan a working triangle centred on your sink, hob and fridge with the

triangle perimeter between 3.5m and 6.5m. That cuts out unnecessary

footwork, especially with hot pans or kettles.

Remember that it is a legal requirement that any firm which installs

or moves gas appliances must be registered with the Confederation of

Registered Gas Installers (CORGI). Tel. 0256 707060.

Remove the overload

AN IMPROVEMENT in the property market could mean more than 2million

British families will move house this year.

Psychologists describe flitting as one of life's most stressful

experiences. The main reason is thought to be that the brain goes into

overload, coping with the hundred and one tasks of moving as well as

adjusting to new surroundings.

According to the British Association of Removers, it will cost you

between #300 for a minimum move to #800, which should include the cost

of wrapping and packing, insurance cover of up to #30,000 and unpacking

at your new abode.

And BAR suggests you could save money by choosing an off-peak time to

flit. The organisation has drawn up a calendar showing days when its

members charge less for removals. Rule of thumb is that winter is

cheaper than summer, because of demand.

Contact BAR on 081 861 3331.

Insurance homework

HOMEWORKERS with expensive computers and other office equipment would

be well advised to check their house contents insurance policies.

Some companies are reluctant to pay out for damage or theft of

business goods unless they are specially described in the policy as

such. This is wise advice, bearing in mind the drop in full settlements

from insurance companies from 90 to 85 per cent revealed in a recent

Consumers' Association report.

Those affected could include a wide spectrum of workers such as

accountants, architects, artists, dressmakers and craftspeople.

Very often the most expensive items in the house are commercial goods.

A call to your insurance company should clear up any doubts over

liability.

The warning to check policies also extends to expensive equipment your

children may borrow from school, such as computers, microscopes, video

cameras or tape recorders. Many higher grade, sixth-year studies and

A-level subjects now involve home projects. Check the position with the

school AND your insurance company.

Back to the days of silk

HAVE YOU ever yearned to replace your white plastic electrical lamp

cables with those of your childhood? You can, thanks to a three-strand

silk-covered cable in gold or brown fleck, sold by the Stiffkey Lamp

Shop.

The cable costs #3 a metre plus postage and packing and is ideal for

reproduction lamps. Tel. 0328 830460.

Speeding within the law

WHERE DO you stand if you pay a deposit on a new sofa and the

manufacturer or retailer goes bust? The answer to this and 350 other

troublesome questions is contained in a new book by the Consumers'

Association.

Entitled 350 Legal Problems Solved, the book addresses a whole

spectrum of queries with the emphasis on speed.

Author Keith Richards of the Consumers' Association said: ''It is

vital to get any problems that arise resolved speedily and at minimal

cost. Legal advice can be costly and so self-help is very important.''

Besides detailing consumer law, the book advises where to get help and

whether to go to court, and includes helpful hints on being taken

seriously. The book is available from bookshops or by phoning 0800

252100.

Glasses raised to the roof

SNOOPING ABOUT your prospective new home with a pair of binoculars

could raise a few eyebrows, but not from the TSB.

The bank would like househunters to say yes to more thorough DIY

surveys before they go ahead with professional surveys, according to

their latest guide.

How To Do A Home MOT advises on doing your own mini survey and

includes a ten-point checklist. The bank wants you to use binoculars to

look for dips in the roof or cracked tiles.

It suggests you inspect the walls for rising damp around the skirting

boards, as well as trying a sniff test. If instinct tells you to

proceed, then get a professional survey by a member of the Royal

Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

For a free copy, write to How To Do A Home MOT, 22 Endell Street,

London WC2H 9AD.