Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Share the Load ("the App") is a laundry scheduling application developed and operated by Strouse Technologies ("we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have regarding your data.

By creating an account or using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect the following information:

• Email address — used for account identification, password resets, and account-related notifications.
• Username — a public identifier (5–25 alphanumeric characters) visible to other group members.
• Password — securely hashed using bcrypt before storage. We never store or have access to your plaintext password.
• Avatar selection — a numeric identifier representing a pre-built avatar image. We do not collect personal photos.

Usage Data

When you use the App, we store the following to provide the service:

• Laundry schedules — load type (e.g., Whites, Darks, Colors, Delicates, Towels, Bedding), start and end times, and urgency flags.
• Laundry preferences — your preferred scheduling windows and cycle duration settings.
• Load count — a cumulative count of loads shared, used for in-app profile features.
• Account creation date — used to display membership duration.

Group Data

If you create or join a group, the following data is stored:

• Group name, slogan, avatar, and optional passcode.
• Group membership associations (which users belong to which group).

Information We Do Not Collect

Share the Load does not collect:

• Location or GPS data
• Photos, media, or files from your device
• Contacts or address book data
• Financial or payment information
• Health, biometric, or sensitive personal data
• Device identifiers for advertising purposes

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the laundry scheduling service.
• Authenticate your identity and secure your account.
• Send transactional emails such as password reset confirmations.
• Display your username, avatar, and scheduling activity to other members of your group.
• Process account deletion requests.

4. Data Visibility Within Groups

Share the Load is a collaborative app. When you join a group, the following information is visible to other group members:

• Your username and avatar
• Your email address
• Your scheduled laundry loads
• Your total number of loads shared
• How long you have been a member

Group owners have additional privileges, including the ability to remove members and edit group settings.

5. Data Storage and Security

• All user data is stored in a MySQL database on infrastructure managed by Strouse Technologies.
• Passwords are hashed with bcrypt and are never stored in plaintext.
• All communication between the App and our servers is encrypted via HTTPS.
• Authentication is handled using JSON Web Tokens (JWT). Access tokens expire after 24 hours, and refresh tokens expire after 180 days.
• Auth tokens and basic app state are stored locally on your device using secure on-device storage.

6. Third-Party Services

We use a minimal number of third-party services to operate the App:

• SMTP email provider — we use an external email delivery service to send transactional emails (e.g., password resets). Your email address is shared with this provider solely for the purpose of delivering these emails.

We do not use any third-party analytics, advertising, crash reporting, or tracking services. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.

7. Children's Privacy

Share the Load is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

8. Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account at any time through the App's settings. Upon receiving a deletion request, we will delete your account and all associated data within 24–48 hours. This includes your profile information, scheduling data, preferences, and group memberships.

9. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the service. If you delete your account, all associated data will be permanently removed from our systems within the timeframe stated above.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your data (see Account Deletion above).
• Object to or restrict certain processing of your data.
• Request a portable copy of your data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information below.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at:

Strouse Technologies
Email: Contact Form