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.

Guidelines for storing gardening equipment

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Whether gardening is your passion or just a newly discovered hobby, it’s not something you can do without the right tools. This includes all sorts of items from simple spades and pruning sheers to large lawnmowers and potentially dangerous chemicals. The thing with gardening, however, is that it has its season. And once that season is over, it’s time to put your tools away. But storing gardening equipment properly is important if you plan on using it again. So you can’t just stuff everything in temporary storage Seattle and call it a day. Instead, you’ll have to take the time to properly prepare your gardening tools and figure out a good strategy for storing them. So let’s take a look at some options.

Why is storing gardening equipment properly important?

There’s no reason to leave your tools lying around when you’re not using them – they’ll just create clutter. So storing them somewhere out of the way is the smart thing to do. But more importantly, leaving them in the wrong place can cause you to injure yourself by tripping and falling or poking and cutting yourself on different spikes and edges. Additionally, you might break your tools this way too. And if you leave them somewhere outside, they’ll be vulnerable to the elements: rain can cause rust and rot, for example. There are, therefore, two main reasons why you need to store your gardening tools properly: your safety and the safety of your equipment.

Person gardening.
If you want to use your tools again, you have to store them properly.

Prepare before storing gardening equipment

There are many different ways to store gardening tools when you’re not using them. But regardless of whether you’re planning on using a Lynnwood self storage facility or just your own garage, you must prepare your tools for storage first.

Clean your tools first

Dirt and debris can cause damage to your tools while they’re in storage. So it’s important to remove them before putting your equipment away. Brush dry dirt off your tools with a strong brush; if that’s not enough, you can also use a mild solution of dishwashing liquid and water. However, if you use water to wash your equipment, make sure to give it enough time to dry thoroughly before you store it. For the first signs of rust, you can use steel wool or a wire brush. It’s very important to remove any already existing rust before storage because the problem will only get worse otherwise.

Do proper maintenance

When you’re packing other things for storage, you typically only need to clean them and then grab your packing materials and start packing. But most gardening equipment requires a bit more care than that. You’ll also want to sharpen any tools with dulled edges (like pruning sheers or spades and hoes). You can use a whetstone with a bit of motor oil for this or a metal file (without oil). Finally, oiling your tools before storage is also a must. Use a cloth to spread a thin layer of motor oil over your gardening equipment to prevent rust and even make them work better.

Pruning sheers.
Give your tools some love.

Safety measures for power tools

Depending on the size and type of your garden, you might not be using any power tools. But in case you have a lawnmower, you’ll want to prepare it for storage as well. And here, it is very important to be especially mindful of the safety both of your motorized tools, which will be expensive to replace, and of yourself. First, examine your power tools for any damage that might need fixing before storage. Then, take them apart, clean them, and sharpen blades. It is best to read the manufacturer’s instructions before doing this to ensure you’re doing it right. Finally, drain the tools and dispose of the fuel properly – never store power tools with flammable fuel still inside. Remember to change the oil too.

Different ideas for storing gardening equipment

When it comes to where you store gardening equipment, you have a couple of different options. Make your choice on the basis of what you need, what you have access to, and how much work you’re willing to put in.

Rent a storage unit

Our Shoreline self storage units are the perfect solution for when you don’t want to have clutter on your own property. Although the size of the storage containers we offer is universal, you can order as many as you need to fit all your gardening equipment and have them transported to any of our storage facilities in the Puget Sound area.

You’ll have a place to put your tools away during the off-season without worrying about them while also maintaining order and free space in your home. Renting storage might incur extra costs but it may well be worth the price so long as you have peace of mind knowing that your tools are safely tucked away until a need for them arises again.

Tools on a wall.
Make sure your tools are organized properly while in storage.

Use your garage or a tool shed

Setting aside a corner of your garage for your gardening equipment or using a tool shed are excellent storage options because they allow you constant access to your tools so you can use them for storing tools both while they’re in frequent use and during the off-season. And if you already have a garage or a tool shed, then you’ll also be saving money! But if you’re an avid gardener, even building a tool shed may be a good idea.

Although you can, of course, access storage units, you usually need to let the Kenmore self storage provider know about this in advance. If your tools are on your own property, however, you can access them whenever you like. But it is very important to keep your garage or tool shed organized in that case. Otherwise, you might end up hurting yourself by tripping over something or walking into it.

Creative ways to keep tools and equipment organized

Regardless of where you are storing gardening equipment, you want to make sure the storage provides optimal conditions for your tools. The location needs to be clean, dry, protected from the elements, and out of sunlight. Use shelves and wall hooks to keep things organized. Things like spades, shovels, rakes, and hoes can be hung on the walls while sheers can be lined on shelves. For motorized tools, it’s best to use original packaging if you have it. If not, you can use moving boxes for smaller tools and simply cover larger ones with tarp or plastic. Make sure your hose is rolled without any kinks before storing it.

Finally, it’s a good idea to periodically check up on your tools while they’re in storage, especially if you’re storing them long-term. After all, you don’t want something to happen to them!

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