As we’re edging ever closer toward summer, we want to give you a down-and-dirty list of spring cleaning tasks that will give your house a good once-over.

We have organized them into inside and outside chores so that, no matter the weather, you can knock out a few of these soon.

Inside checklist

Open windows and doors for a few hours. This takes the stale smell away and lets out trapped moisture. Also, the extra light and fresh air help kill spores.

Wash the insides of the windows.

Dust around the window frame and blinds. Clean out the window tracks where mold, dust and dead bugs accumulate.

Test your smoke detectors. If you missed doing this at the switch to Daylight Saving Time, take a moment now to test your smoke detectors. Make sure they have fresh batteries.

Pull all appliances away from their footprints — your stove, refrigerator, freezer, washer and dryer. Thoroughly sweep and wet-mop behind and under where each appliance gathers lint, toys, and food that attracts insects and vermin.

Dust the coils of the refrigerator. Then replace the back cardboard covering the dusty motor to maintain proper ventilation for the appliance. Also, take the vent off the front of the refrigerator and wash it.

Clean your clothes dryer. Vacuum all the extra lint in and around it, including the exhaust tube and the outside at the flapper vent. A stuck flapper allows critters to nest in your dryer.

Clean or replace the furnace filter. Blow out each Cadet wall heater and vacuum. Then wipe down each baseboard. Ask yourself if you are ready for a super-efficient ductless heat pump. Call local PUD to ask about rebates.

Plan large home maintenance projects — roofing, major repairs, painting exterior, ductless heat pump installation, etc. — around a written scope of work. Contact contractors ASAP to get the apples-to-apples bidding done. That way you will be in your successful, licensed and bonded contractor’s schedule before the busy construction season starts.

Have specific, written contracts. Bigger projects go more smoothly when your written contract includes your final scope of work, states how much it will cost including tax and permits, and has start and end dates. It should also contain clauses about labor and material costs of change-orders, and how the contractor will get the final payment after all work needing permits is inspected and you have a written, unconditional lien waiver in your hand.

Outside checklist

Wash the outside siding and trim of the house with 30 Second cleaner. Follow directions. We loan pump sprayers and long-handled brushes for this job.

Wash the outsides of all your windows. Use a gallon of hot water with a half-cup of ammonia. Rinse very well with the hose.

Check out your windows and screens. Fixing broken windows needs to be a priority. If the glazing putty or caulking is chipped, now’s the time to make those repairs. Ripped screens invite spiders, bees and other bugs.

Look for missing or damaged siding or trim. Repair and replace missing pieces and protect your exterior with paint to avoid moisture, rot and insect problems.

Examine your roof. Are there any missing shingles or damaged sections? Take notes to plan your summer projects.

Clean gutters of any leaves, branches, needles or gunk from winter’s storms. Make sure downspouts with splash blocks convey the water away from the foundation.

Open any foundation vents you closed for the winter. During a cold spell, it’s OK to close or board up foundation vents for a few days. However, it is critical for the health of your house to reopen them come spring. Also, check the plastic ground cover under the house to be sure it is intact and secure.

Make sure that soil and bark don’t touch untreated wood framing or siding. Having soil and bark at least 6 inches from your house discourages rot and bug infestation.

Take a critical look at your overall property. Create “use someday soon” project piles and “throw out” piles. Make a plan to finish the project piles, then donate or properly dispose of the throw-away pile. To donate building materials consider the Habitat ReStore in Hoquiam.

Loans for siding, painting, roofing

If your investigation revealed missing shingles, a peeling paint job or cracked siding, you may be interested in our new 3% loans for these sorts of projects.

If you own and are living in your house and are income-qualified, you may be eligible to receive a loan from us for up to $25,000 for siding, painting and roofing projects. To find out more, call Julie at 360-533-7828.

Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty are construction specialists at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County, where Murnen is executive director. This is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing for all residents of Grays Harbor County. For questions about home repair, renting, remodeling or buying, call 360-533-7828 or visit 710 E. Market St. in Aberdeen. Our office is fully ADA-compliant.