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.

Tips for storing school supplies long-term

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A classroom is more than just four walls and a few chairs. It’s books and pencils, sharpies and crayons. It’s children’s artwork, play-dough, paints, and brushes. But, as the seasons change, all those things must migrate to a safe place. Fortunately, storing school supplies long-term is easy nowadays. All it takes is a bit of preparation and a reliable self storage Seattle service provider. After that, it’s only a matter of awaiting the new generation.

A teacher showing kids how to draw
Properly storing school supplies long-term ensures proper education.

Find the right storage for your needs

In terms of storage requirements, school supplies can vary all the way from low demanding to extremely sensitive. Therefore, the storage facility you choose must provide optimal conditions for all of them. In this case, one size must fit all. Fortunately, today, this is not that hard to achieve. You can find well-rounded Woodinville self storage with next to no effort. Most modern facilities boast all the necessary features for storing school supplies long-term:

  1. Security;
  2. Temperature control;
  3. Cleanliness;
  4. Accessibility.

It’s important to note, however, that none of these features is optional. Your items will remain in storage for months on end, and skimping on any of the above means compromising their safety. There is a silver lining here, though. Even with all these amazing features, self storage remains affordable. So, you can ensure your supplies’ security, without breaking the bank.

Security

Security is the most important feature of a storage facility. Despite what people may think, school supplies are more than just a bunch of paper and pencils. They are a significant investment, especially considering that no modern classroom can go without some form of electronic equipment. Therefore, your facility of choice should have the following security features:

  • 24/7 monitoring;
  • Video surveillance;
  • Personalized locks;
  • Individually-alarmed units;
  • Security guards.

Even a few of these features can provide sufficient security for your school supplies. But, the more the merrier.

Temperature control

Several pencils resting on a sketch
The majority of school supplies demand specific storage conditions.

School supplies bost a wide variety of items that need proper temperature. Electronics are an obvious example as they are the most vulnerable to sudden environmental changes. However, other items, too, need specific storage conditions. Crayons can easily melt and books are highly susceptible to harm. Sharpies can dry out – even with the lids on. This need for near-perfect conditions becomes even more pronounced when you’re storing school supplies long-term. Therefore, it’s imperative to choose temperature-controlled facilities if you want them to retain quality and integrity.

Cleanliness

Pests love school supplies. Rodents enjoy munching on yarn and textiles you use for the art class. Bugs and other creepy crawlies can make short work of everything else, no matter how unappetizing it might seem. And, if something remains after them, dust and dirt will take care of it. So, it’s essential to find a storage service provider that keeps their storage impeccable.

Accessibility

This is the only feature that you can afford to skimp on when storing school supplies long-term. Accessibility plays a significant role when you know you’ll use the supplies often. But, if that’s the case, then going for short term storage Seattle movers offer presents a better option. However, although it’s not of utmost importance, it always pays to have easy access to your storage. And that access is all the better when it comes to your front door instead of having your drive up to the facility.

Preparation is the key to storing school supplies long-term

Choosing ideal storage goes a long way toward keeping your supplies safe. However, even the best storage won’t do much if you don’t prepare your belongings for storage properly. Still, considering how many various items school supplies consist of, this might seem like an impossible task. Good news: it isn’t! In general, we can separate them into three distinct categories, each with its own methods of preparation.

Books and paper items

These are the easiest to prepare for storing. The main concern here is preventing moisture damage. Paper is highly susceptible to it, and it doesn’t take long for moisture to ruin it. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to protect them:

  • Wrap each book individually in stretch foil. As an alternative, you can use paper towels, but they don’t provide nearly as much protection. Just avoid wrapping them in the newspaper, as the print can easily transfer to the covers;
  • For larger paper items (posters, drawings, etc.), you should consider poster tube, as it provides the most protection. Alternatively, you can stack them, placing a sheet of clean paper between each piece. After that, you can wrap them in stretch foil, and place them in boxes.

Art supplies

A young teacher using laptop to find best ways of storing school supplies long-term.
Preparing school supplies for storing isn’t difficult. All it takes is a bit of preparation.

When it comes to preparing art supplies, plastic bins are your best friend. They are pest-proof and also provide ample protection from dust and moisture. The most important thing here is to prevent the spillage of liquid supplies. Cans of paint, bottles of glue, and similar items can present a potential hazard. But, if you seal them tightly and place them in bins, there’s not much to worry about.

Electronics

Now, for the tricky part. As we mentioned, electronics are highly susceptible to temperature variations. But, also, to moisture, dust, and dirt. So, they’ll need a bit more “pampering” than other school supplies.

  • If possible, store electronic devices in their original cases. These provide the best protection.

However, if you can’t find the original box, it will take a bit more work:

  • Wrap the device in bubble wrap;
  • Secure the bubble wrap in place with painters tape;
  • Use a quality cardboard box to pack electronics. Avoid used boxes, as they don’t provide nearly as much integrity;
  • Pad the box with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or crumpled newspaper;
  • Place the device inside the box and add padding until it can’t move at all;
  • Seal the box with packing tape and label it.

It’s a good idea to disassemble the device, before packing. If this isn’t possible, at least remove cables and batteries, and pack them separately for easier handling.

Choose the right company for your storage needs

As you can see, storing school supplies long-term isn’t such a daunting task. The biggest challenge you’ll face is finding ideal storage. And, even that only requires you to contact a reputable Seattle storage company and taking your pick.

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