Founded in 1890, Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage the parent company of Portabox has successfully weathered many history-changing events including the Great Seattle Fire, WWI, the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Great Depression, WWII, the 2008 recession, and 9/11 among many other public crises. We are taking the current COVID-19 threat very seriously and will promptly adhere to any and all directives from local, state and federal government officials. Hansen Bros. and Portabox have been categorized as an essential industry business (moving & relocation) within the current mandate established by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

As essential services, we will maintain normal operations until such time as either company management determines we must close our offices or we are directed to do so by a governmental authority. We are taking extensive precautionary measures including the adoption of all CDC guidelines and the establishment of our own policies intended to minimize health risks for all customers, employees, contractors, vendors, and community stakeholders. We are proud to be able to support the needs of our customers during this crucial time but are prepared to quickly change course as required.

Stay safe together with Hansen Bros. and Portabox

The COVID-19 crisis is fluid and there are many uncertainties and factors outside of our control that may, with little or no advance notice, impact our delivery of moving & storage services. Please be aware the current crisis could potentially result in small inconveniences such as a delayed project start time or significant inconveniences such as the complete rescheduling of services.

Although there are many unknowns to be navigated, you can be certain that Hansen Bros. and Portabox will be timely and transparent in our communications regarding servicing your moving & storage needs, and our professional relocation consultants will work diligently to offer creative solutions in the event your project is impacted by the current health crisis.

Steps We're Taking:

  • Company-wide Implementation of all precautionary measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Office staff and crews are being monitored daily for symptoms and/or known exposure by management and asked to go home, contact their healthcare provider, and self-quarantine as directed. Staff that experience symptoms and/or aware of exposure when not at work have been directed to stay home and notify their supervisor.
  • Office staff and crews are receiving daily briefings on precautionary measures and have been directed to follow them on and off the job.
  • Office staff and crews are being instructed to maintain appropriate “social distance” of 6 feet minimum between one another, customers, and all other people.
  • Office staff and crews are being provided with appropriate hand sanitizer and surface disinfecting supplies. They have been directed to disinfect truck cabs and moving equipment between each move to the best of their ability. These supplies will continue to be replenished as we are able, based on availability from retailers.
  • We are limiting visitation to our branch offices. If you wish to purchase moving boxes or supplies, please simply call in your order and we will happily deliver to your vehicle outside.

We are all in this together.  The team at Hansen Bros. and Portabox is proud to continue offering our services in accordance with the necessary precautions outlined above. We are here to make the process of storing belongings seamless & safe for you.

Guide to storing childhood toys and memorabilia

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Memories are important – especially the ones that remind us of our childhood. All of us have boxes of toys and memorabilia that we are just unable to get rid of. The problem arises when you are not ready to say your goodbyes but are lacking the space for all of those items. The good news is that there is a simple way to solve that problem, and the solution lies in temporary storage in Seattle (insert the name of the place you reside in). Storing childhood toys and memorabilia is great when you want to hold on to beautiful memories – but it’s even better if you plan to have kids of your own. Until then, read our guide on the topic and learn how to preserve your precious items.

Not every toy you own should be kept

We completely understand your need and desire to save every item that you associate with your childhood. However, not every item you have should be kept and stored in a Newcastle self-storage facility. Not only will fewer items equal less packing effort, but they will also signify a considerable amount of saved up money. For that reason, we suggest that you take a day or two to go through your items and decide what goes, and what stays. 

A close up of a Barbie.
Are your dolls missing heads? Then you might not want to store them.

It’s a general rule of thumb not to store anything that is ruined. Will your kids really need a Barbie doll with no hair and arms? Highly unlikely. So make sure that you throw away all those toys that simply cannot be used anymore. Of course, it’s only human to hold on to one or two of such items. But you really don’t need boxes of them.

Choose the right unit when storing childhood toys and memorabilia

These days, professional storage services have become a necessity for many people. Not only can they be used during relocation and remodeling, but they can also be of use to people who are in dire need of space. And if you are in need of space, chances are that you won’t use your storage unit for storing toys and memorabilia only. The tricky part is choosing the unit that will be in accordance with all the items that you are storing.

Just to give you an example, you need to bear in mind that valuable pieces of art, as well as wooden furniture, require a climate-controlled unit. Truth be told, if all you are storing are toys, then you can opt for a regular unit. But we don’t suggest that you risk any damage to those items that have a lot of value – both monetary and emotional.

So before putting your signature at the dotted line, make sure you do your research. Choose the best and most affordable option for you and move on to the next step. And that’s gathering the necessary packing supplies.

A man signing a contract.
You need to be sure of your decision before locking yourself in a deal.

You can’t put your childhood toys and memorabilia in storage without packing supplies

Moving and storage go hand in hand with packing supplies. And the cardboard boxes/plastic containers are only the tip of the iceberg. While you do need dozens of containers in which you will place your items, you also need a whole list of other complementary supplies.

  • Packing paper
  • Tape
  • Packing peanuts
  • Protective packaging 
  • Markers

Just by looking at all the things you need, you might believe that it must be expensive to store your childhood toys and memorabilia. But little do you know that you can find re-usable packing materials, or get them for cheap at any dollar store. Just make sure you get enough of these supplies. In fact, we suggest you buy more than what you think you will need. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Important tips and tricks for storage

Storing childhood toys and memorabilia seems simple – but it rarely is so. You would be surprised to know how simple it is for your items to get damaged. That’s why a lot of attention is advised. Luckily, we are always here to help all of our readers by sharing tips and tricks that are coming straight from the pros. 

  • It is never a good idea to overstuff your boxes with items – that can lead to inevitable damage.
  • There shouldn’t be too much empty space inside the box – if there is, just throw in some packing peanuts.
  • In order to be safe and not sorry, wrap every piece in protective packaging.
  • Need more space in storage? Then stack your boxes and always make sure you put lighter boxes on top.
  • If you plan on retrieving your toys anytime soon, make sure you put them at the front of the unit.
A teddy bear to include when storing childhood toys and memorabilia.
While it is not an everyday occurrence, it is possible for your stuffed animals to get damaged.

We have to admit that storing furniture is never easy and it doesn’t make much difference whether you are storing toys or chairs. Every item in storage needs to be properly protected before being put in storage. But what we often see is people who are storing many different types of items and skipping one very important step – labeling the boxes. How else are you supposed to differentiate between fragile items and those that can’t be so easily broken?

Whether you are 9 or 99, it’s always good to cherish important memories

And it will be difficult to find memories that are more important than the ones you create in your childhood. A lot of people decide to throw away their items from this period simply because they forget that storing childhood toys and memorabilia is an option. Not only is it an option, but it is an amazing way to create some additional space in your home without having to compromise on which items stay in your house and which ones you have to get rid of. We encourage you to seek out your perfect unit as soon as today!

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Locations Served

LYNNWOOD PORTABOX

2902B Lincoln Way Lynnwood, WA, 98087

SEATTLE PORTABOX

10750 Aurora Ave N Suite B Seattle, WA 98133

NEWCASTLE PORTABOX

6868 Coal Creek Pkwy SE Newcastle, WA 98059

BOISE PORTABOX

103 N Curtis Road Boise, ID, 83706