Privacy Policy

01 · Overview

Scope of this policy

This Privacy Policy applies to CareBySurface at carebysurface.com, including its articles, forms, comments, newsletter features, and other pages that link to this policy (collectively, the “Website”). In this policy, “CareBySurface,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the operator of the Website.

This policy does not govern third-party websites, products, or services that may be linked from or embedded in the Website. Their privacy practices are controlled by their own notices.

02 · Collection

Information we may collect

Information you choose to provide

• Contact requests: your name, email address, message, and any other details you include when contacting us.
• Newsletter subscriptions: your email address, subscription status, preferences, and related engagement information.
• Comments: the name, email address, optional website address, comment content, and related moderation information you submit.
• Privacy requests: details needed to receive, verify, and respond to your request.
• Other submissions: information you voluntarily send through a form or communication channel made available on the Website.

Information collected automatically

When you visit the Website, we and our service providers may automatically receive limited technical and usage information, depending on the tools enabled and your consent choices. This may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address and approximate location inferred from it;
• browser, device, operating system, language, and screen information;
• referring and exit pages, pages viewed, links selected, and timestamps;
• cookie identifiers, consent preferences, advertising identifiers, or similar technologies; and
• server logs, security events, diagnostic data, and suspected spam or abuse signals.

Sensitive information

Please do not send sensitive personal information—such as government identifiers, financial account credentials, precise health information, or passwords—through comments or general contact forms. CareBySurface does not need this information to provide its general website content.

03 · Purpose

How we use information

We may use personal information to:

• provide, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and improve the Website;
• respond to questions, feedback, and privacy requests;
• manage comments, prevent spam, and enforce Website rules;
• send newsletters or updates you requested and manage unsubscribes;
• understand Website traffic, content performance, and user experience;
• display, measure, and help prevent fraud in advertising;
• record and honor cookie, consent, and privacy preferences;
• protect the Website, visitors, and our rights from misuse or security threats; and
• comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes.

We may aggregate or de-identify information so that it is not reasonably linked to an individual. We may use and disclose such information for lawful purposes.

04 · EEA & UK

Legal bases for processing

If the European Economic Area or United Kingdom data-protection laws apply, our legal basis depends on the context:

• Consent: for certain non-essential cookies, personalized advertising, analytics, or marketing communications. You may withdraw consent at any time.
• Legitimate interests: to operate, secure, improve, and understand the Website, respond to ordinary inquiries, and prevent fraud or misuse—where those interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Contract or pre-contract steps: when processing is necessary to provide something you request.
• Legal obligation: when we must keep or disclose information to comply with applicable law.

05 · Technologies

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small text files placed on a device. Similar technologies include local storage, pixels, tags, and software development tools. Some are deleted when you close your browser; others remain until they expire or are removed.

You can delete or block cookies through your browser. Blocking all cookies may cause parts of the Website to work differently. Where a cookie or privacy preferences control is displayed on the Website, you can use it to review or change eligible choices.

06 · Monetization

Advertising and Google

CareBySurface may use Google AdSense and other advertising partners to display and measure advertisements. Third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies or similar technologies to serve ads based on a user’s prior visits to this Website or other websites.

Google’s use of advertising cookies enables Google and its partners to serve personalized ads based on visits to this Website and/or other sites. Depending on your location, consent choice, and account settings, you may instead receive non-personalized or limited ads. Non-personalized ads may still use contextual information, approximate location, frequency capping, aggregated reporting, and fraud-prevention data.

Where required, we use a consent interface to request and record choices before eligible advertising technologies operate. Available choices can vary by region and by the technology in use.

07 · Site features

Analytics, newsletters, comments, and embeds

Analytics and performance

If analytics services are enabled, they may process device and usage information to help us understand traffic, popular content, technical performance, and user experience. Where required, non-essential analytics will be governed by the choices presented in our consent interface.

Newsletter and email

If you subscribe, we and our email service provider may process your email address, subscription status, preferences, and delivery or engagement events to send and improve requested communications. Every promotional newsletter should include an unsubscribe option. We may keep a limited suppression record after an unsubscribe so that we can honor the request.

Comments

When visitors leave comments, the Website may collect the information shown in the comment form, along with IP address and browser details to support spam detection and moderation. Approved comments and the submitted display name may be visible publicly. Do not include information in a comment that you do not want made public.

If you choose the browser option to save your name, email, and website for a future comment, WordPress may store those details in cookies on your device. If an avatar service such as Gravatar is enabled, an anonymized value derived from your email address may be sent to that service to check whether you use it.

Embedded content

Articles may include embedded videos, images, social posts, or other content from third parties. Embedded content can behave as if you visited the third party directly. That provider may collect data, place cookies, or track interaction subject to its own policy and your available consent choices.

08 · Recipients

When information may be disclosed

We may disclose information in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: companies that support hosting, content delivery, security, spam prevention, forms, newsletters, analytics, consent management, advertising, and technical operations. They receive information as needed to perform services for us or as disclosed in their own notices.
• Advertising and analytics partners: where enabled and permitted by your choices and applicable law.
• Legal and safety reasons: when reasonably necessary to comply with law, respond to valid process, investigate abuse, protect rights or safety, or prevent fraud and security incidents.
• Business changes: in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or transfer of all or part of the Website, subject to appropriate safeguards.
• With your direction or consent: when you ask us to disclose information or clearly agree to it.

09 · Storage

Retention and international processing

How long information is kept

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose collected, including to provide Website functions, maintain security, honor preferences, comply with law, and resolve disputes. The period depends on the type of information and context. For example, a comment may remain while it is published; newsletter details may be kept until you unsubscribe, with a limited suppression record afterward; and technical logs may be kept for a limited period based on security and provider needs. Information may then be deleted, anonymized, or securely retained where law requires it.

International processing

CareBySurface and its service providers may process information in the United States and other countries, which may have data-protection rules different from those where you live. Where required, appropriate safeguards are used for international transfers.

10 · Protection

Data security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. You should use care when deciding what information to send online.

11 · Control

Your privacy rights and choices

Depending on where you live and whether an applicable law covers the processing, you may have the right to:

• request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information;
• receive a portable copy of certain information;
• restrict or object to certain processing;
• withdraw consent without affecting earlier lawful processing;
• opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information or its use for targeted advertising;
• limit certain uses of sensitive personal information, where applicable;
• appeal a denied privacy request, where applicable; and
• complain to your local data-protection regulator.

California residents may have rights to know categories and specific pieces of personal information, learn about sources, purposes, and recipients, request correction or deletion, opt out of sale or sharing, limit certain uses of sensitive information, and receive equal service without unlawful discrimination. These rights and business obligations depend on statutory scope and exceptions.

How to make a request

An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted by law. We may ask for proof of authority and, where allowed, direct confirmation from the person concerned. We will respond within the time required by applicable law. If we deny a request, we will explain the reason and any available appeal method when required.

Cookie choices and Global Privacy Control

You can use available consent or privacy controls on the Website and your browser settings. Where applicable, we treat recognized browser-based opt-out signals, such as Global Privacy Control (GPC), as a request to opt out of sale, sharing, or targeted advertising for that browser or device.

Do Not Track

Because there is no uniform industry standard for browser “Do Not Track” signals, the Website may not respond to them. This is separate from legally recognized opt-out preference signals such as GPC.

12 · Age

Children’s privacy

The Website provides general home-care information and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to us, please contact us so we can review and take appropriate action. In regions with a higher age threshold for online consent, we apply the locally required standard where applicable.

13 · Other services

Third-party links and social features

The Website may link to retailers, manufacturers, social networks, reference sources, or other third parties. Selecting a link or social control can allow that third party to receive information about your visit. CareBySurface does not control third-party privacy, security, content, or terms. Review the applicable third-party policy before providing information.

14 · Updates

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in the Website, service providers, legal requirements, or our practices. The revised version will be posted on this page with a new effective date. If a change is material, we may provide an additional notice where appropriate or required.