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.

Packing glass items for storage – how to prepare

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There are but a few things that are more complicated than packing glass items for storage. As one might imagine, glass items are extremely fragile and prone to damage, making it that much more difficult to keep them free of any harm during transport and storage. Your crystal lamps and other breakables will surely need a lot of preparation before being put in a Renton self-storage unit, but that’s what we are here for. Our goal for this article is to give you a few essential tips on how to pack your glasses, plates, and vases. All you have to do is follow the simple steps we are about to share with you.

Prepare the right materials for packing

How can you pack your glass items without first gathering the right packing materials? Depending on how many items you have to pack, you might need to buy just a couple of cardboard boxes. Or you might need dozens of them. Either way, before preparing your items for Bellevue self-storage, we suggest you buy:

  • Packing peanuts
  • Packing tape
  • Markers
  • Packing paper
  • Rags or towels
  • Plastic bubbles
A table filled with glass items.
The number of supplies that you buy will depend on how many items you have to store.

Once you have all these items, plus a necessary number of cardboard boxes in different sizes, it’s time to get down to packing. All that’s necessary from this point forward is a lot of patience and attention. Every fragile item will need to get the attention it deserves.

You’ll need to pad the boxes before packing glass items for storage

Because glassware and glass items are so easy to be broken, they will need a soft and comfortable bed. If you are looking to find some great yet pretty much free shock absorbers, you can use towels, sweatshirts, and other linen you have. Crumpled packing paper will also work great. With these materials, you can pad the interior of the boxes, and make sure you don’t miss any sides. You need to make sure that your items are protected from all angles, as that’s the only way for them to be completely safe while in a self-storage Seattle unit.

Every item needs to be individually wrapped in some type of protective material

Every fragile item you own will need to be properly cared for and protected. And the best way to achieve absolute protection when packing glass items for storage is by wrapping every item in protective materials. For the best results, we suggest you first use one layer of packing paper and then further add another layer of plastic bubbles. Just make sure that you do follow this specific order. Plastic bubbles should not come in contact with glass or they can have a sticking or suctioning effect.

Be careful when placing the dishes inside the boxes

Even though you might think it’s best to store plates one on top of the other inside boxes, that’s not really the case. The best way to store plates is by putting them on their edge inside the boxes. In the case that the box experiences any type of force (such as the truck going over a pothole), it will be much safer than when placed flat. It’s a mistake such as this one that usually urges people to hire professional packers instead of packing themselves. So that’s an option you might want to consider when packing your fragile items for storage.

Stacks of plates to be careful with when packing glass items for storage.
Everyone thinks they know the right way to pack plates – until they make a mistake.

There can be no empty space inside the box

The truth is that fragile items prefer to be snug inside the box. That’s the only way to ensure that they won’t break. Or at least minimize the potential for them breaking. To do that, you need to see that there is no empty space inside the box. Once you pack the boxes about three inches from the top, you should add a crumpled layer of packing paper or some other packing material. And when you do close a box, the top flaps should be difficult to push down so anything that’s stacked on top of the box won’t break your fragile items.

Know how to seal the box

Now that all of your items are all snuggled up in a box, it’s time to add the finishing touches. Remember the packing tape which was mentioned a few minutes ago? This is when you use it. Tape the boxes shut with packing tape by making sure no area is left uncovered and protect your precious pieces while moving them to a storage unit.

And once this part of the job is done, you are almost finished. All that’s left to do now is label the boxes by writing FRAGILE. This is important because this step prevents any mix-ups. Everyone who comes in contact with the box, including you, will know what that box holds. Thus, they will handle it with more caution, preventing any damages that way. Looks like a lot of work is needed in order to protect a few precious glass items.

Pots and plants.
Whether you are trying to pack glass bowls or glasses, you need to put in a lot of work.

What else can you do to ensure your glass items stay safe?

Once you have done the job of packing glass items for storage the right way, there are only a couple of things that could impair their safety. For example, the type of storage unit you opt for. While climate-controlled units are a pricier option, they are also a safer one. These units will ensure that the temperature inside is always nice and cool, keeping all of the stored items safe from any extreme weather. That’s why, in these situations, DIY storage alternatives aren’t suggested. They might be a great option when storing your holiday decorations, but they are not as great when it comes to easily damaged items.

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