So you’ve noticed your headlights aren’t shining as bright at night or they are cloudier than when you first bought your car–here’s how to clean your headlights and get them ready for spring.

Most headlights are made of polycarbonate plastic, which is more durable and scratch-resistant than the glass lenses that were used in older cars. But over time polycarbonate clouds over, mostly due to UV rays that breakdown and degrade the outer layer of plastic. These changes cause the lenses to absorb blue light from the bulbs and cause a less potent, yellowish light to be emitted.

The good news however, there is a cheap and easy method to clean those dingy headlights using items you already have at home!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Microfiber Cloth 
• Water
• Tube of Toothpaste

Not only does toothpaste keep your teeth clean and sparkling, but they can restore your headlights pretty close to their original glory as well.

After cleaning your headlights with a mild cleanser to remove any loose debris, towel dry your headlights removing all moisture from the surface. Apply some toothpaste to the microfiber cloth and begin scrubbing in small circular motions on the headlight. Don’t add water to the toothpaste just yet.

Once the toothpaste has been scrubbed and buffed onto the entire headlight, clean the toothpaste from the microfiber cloth using water only. Keeping the cloth damp, begin removing the toothpaste on the headlight using the same small, circular strokes. Using a dry towel, wipe off remaining water or toothpaste and voila!

Of course repeat these steps on the other headlight and you’ll have squeeky clean and new-looking headlights in no time at all!

It is always a good idea to apply a UV Sealant to your headlights after cleaning as this extends protection to your lenses and keeps them from getting cloudy as quickly. Check with our service department on the best UV Sealant for your vehicle’s headlights.

This article was written by INFINITI of South Atlanta in Union City, GA.

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Warmer temperatures invite us outdoors for activities that expose us to the sun’s warm but dangerous rays. Health specialists recommend using sunscreen to protect the skin from the risks of sunburn and skin cancer while enjoying the great outdoors; but not everyone understands how sunscreen works. To remedy these misconceptions, here is the truth about eight common sunscreen myths.

Sunscreen doesn’t expire
Although you might think sunscreen doesn’t have an expiration date, it actually does. According to Jon Johnson, contributor to Medical News Today, the active ingredients in sunscreen eventually break down and are no longer effective in protecting from the sun.

Some sunscreen bottles will list an expiration date so you know how long you have to use them. For the ones that don’t, it’s a safe bet to use the contents within three years from when you purchased the sunscreen, according to Mayo Clinic member Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.

One application is enough
Although some sunscreen packages might claim that the product lasts all day, that’s not actually the case. According to Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, this is just “hyped up marketing,” as he explained in a Today article. He recommended applying sunscreen every two to three hours, no matter what type of sunscreen you’re using or how long it says it lasts.

Some sunscreens are 100 percent waterproof
Once again, this is another claim that sunscreens can’t deliver on. Although some types of sunscreen might be more resistant to water than others, no sunscreen can be totally waterproof, as Johnson also explains. It’s important to apply sunscreen at least 10 to 15 minutes before going swimming or engaging in a water sport, as well as reapplying it afterward.

Drinkable SPFs are great substitutes for sunscreen lotion
There’s a new trend to protect yourself from the sun: ingesting products like Osmosis Harmonized H20 UV Neutralizer, instead of applying conventional sunscreen to your skin. Per Rokhsar, there’s no scientific support that backs the claims of oral SPF products, so it’s best to stick with sunscreen lotion for skin protection.

A dark complexion requires little or no sunscreen
While pale-skinned individuals are more prone to sunburn, those with darker skin are not immune to the dangers of UV rays. As Boer Deng, contributor with The Washington Post, notes, while melanin in the skin acts as a mild defense against skin damage, it only offers an SPF value of 1.5 to 2.0, which isn’t strong enough to shield your skin from UV rays.

Sunscreen is more effective than covering up
It turns out, covering your skin with clothing or accessories like hats is a better defense against sun damage than sunscreen lotion, as Johnson identifies. For even more protection against UV radiation, Rokhsar suggests donning SPF clothing, which is 100 percent effective.

SPF is the most important quality
It’s easy to think that SPF is the most vital factor to consider when you’re browsing sunscreens at the store. According to Maya Guhan with Berkeley Wellness, that’s not accurate. While SPF relates to the sunscreen’s protective capacity against UVB rays, you also have to consider its protection against UVA rays. Make sure that the sunscreen you decide to purchase has “broad spectrum” written on the label, to ensure that the lotion will properly shield you from both UVB and UVA rays.

Shelter is just as good as sunscreen
It’s tempting to think that if you’re under a beach umbrella, you’ll avoid getting sunburnt. However, sand accounts for 17 percent of UV radiation, so you can still experience some level of skin damage even if you’re under the umbrella rather than in direct sunlight, Guhan warns. She cites a JAMA Dermatology study from 2017, which indicates that 80 percent of people who sat under a beach umbrella for 3.5 hours without sunscreen experienced sunburn that manifested itself the next day.

Implement these helpful strategies to maximize the benefits of sunscreen and keep your skin healthy.

This article is presented by INFINITI of South Atlanta in Union City, GA.

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With the temperature starting to increase, you may keep your vehicle’s windows open more often or have the a/c blowing. It’s time for a clean-up, to remove the dust, dirt and debris of a wet winter and prevent damage to your vehicle’s interior. Plus, a neat and orderly cabin just looks, and feels, better.

The easiest and most thorough way to a sparkling interior is to bring your vehicle into the dealership and let trained professionals with specialized tools and knowledge give it a thorough cleaning and detailing. If you want to start the job yourself, here are a few tips to make the job more manageable.

The first thing you’ll want to do is grab a garbage bag and clean out any trash. Whether it’s candy wrappers, bottles or fast food containers, chances are good you have an abundance of stuff that can be thrown out. Be sure to bring along a separate bag for recyclables. It’s also a good time to make sure you have your current registration, insurance and owner’s manuals. Working from front to back can be beneficial, and don’t forget about the trunk.

Next, wipe down all interior surfaces to remove dirt, dust and stains that have accumulated. The dashboard, armrests, door jambs, windows, handles, knobs and buttons should all be wiped with proper cleaning products recommended by our vehicle’s manufacturer. Don’t forget about hidden cup holders, map pockets, cubbies, glove boxes and any rear cargo storage areas. There are an abundance of helpful items out there to help make the job easier, and you can ask our dealership’s service department for recommendations.

Be conscious of USB and auxiliary ports, to avoid getting cleaners or water into them, and be sure to use soft cloth (never paper) and factory-recommended cleaners when wiping touch-screens and other displays, to avoid scratching or otherwise damaging them.

If you have leather seats, use a product that’s specially designed for leather. If not, use a product recommended for your cloth upholstery or use a damp cloth, making sure you avoid using large quantities of water so you don’t get the seat padding wet. Take any floor mats out of your vehicle, shake them and, if they are rubber, rinse them with a hose. You obviously want to use products that won’t harm your vehicle’s interior, so when in doubt, ask for help.

Once you’ve gotten rid of all of the surface debris, it’s time to vacuum. There are plenty of quality places to take your vehicle, or use your home or shop vacuum cleaner, which often has attachments for those hard-to-reach areas. Remember to get under, along-side and between seats, and the trunk or cargo area, too. Next, vacuum carpeted floor mats. If your carpet or carpeted mats have stains, ask your dealer to recommend a cleaner that won’t harm the carpet material.

Once you’ve finished, an exterior wash will leave your vehicle feeling good as new.

A clean car is a simple pleasure, and with the colder months ahead, it’s important to keep it that way. If you carry lots of stuff that is hard to keep organized and tidy, it may be time to look into the cargo management items available for your make and model at your dealership. There are usually plenty of choices made to the exact specifications of your vehicle.

With all of the high-tech equipment you have in your vehicle, it’s frequently the simple things that get overlooked. As always, if there’s anything you need to help keep your vehicle running its best, stop by today and let our factory-trained staff do the job as only they can.

This article is presented by INFINITI of South Atlanta, in Union City, GA.

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The 2019 INFINITI QX60 was named in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Cars for the Money awards as the winner in the Luxury 3-Row SUV category.

The Best Cars for the Money methodology combines quality and value data into a composite score. Within each of the 14 categories, the vehicle with the highest score is named the Best Car for the Money in that category. Quality is measured by the overall score a vehicle achieved in the U.S. News car rankings at the time the awards are calculated. The rankings, updated regularly, compare cars on the basis of safety, reliability and a consensus of industry experts’ opinions. Value is measured by a combination of a vehicle’s five-year total cost of ownership, provided by Vincentric, LLC, and the average price paid for the vehicle at the time the awards are tabulated, as calculated by TrueCar.

The popular and highly awarded INFINITI QX60 offers the best of both luxury and practicality with a combination of family-oriented features as well as a welcoming, carefully crafted design inside and out. With a third row of seating, the spacious interior adjusts to customers’ needs.

Standard on all QX60 models is a breakthrough technology designed especially for active families – Rear Door Alert. The new Rear Door Alert system, first introduced on the 2018 QX60, can help remind customers of things that may be forgotten in the rear seat, such as pets, valuables, dry cleaning, groceries and more. Other available driver assist technologies include: Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection; Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention; Backup Collision Intervention; Blind Spot Intervention; and Intelligent Cruise Control (Full-Speed Range). Also offered are the advanced Predictive Forward Collision Warning system and Forward Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection.

More information about the INFINITI QX60 is available at http://www.infinitiusa.com.

Click here to see our INFINITI QX60 inventory.

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The temperatures are rising. The birds are singing. In other words, spring has sprung, and you’re probably busier than a bee spring cleaning every room inside your house and tending to your neglected, winter-beaten landscape and patio. In your dedication to your cleaning chores, don’t forget to add “spring clean the car” to your list. Just as your home has weathered the winter months, so has your car, and it, too, needs a lot of attention, inside and out.

Exterior
Road salt, grime and dirt can eat away at your vehicle’s pristine paint job as well as corrode the undercarriage. Flying debris – like rocks – that hit your car while driving can cause tiny nicks in the exterior, which can grow and cause rust to form. According to AutoTrader.com writer Doug DeMuro, washing your car and ridding it of winter’s footprint is essential.

A thorough washing does more than remove these contaminants to reveal a pretty finish; it protects your car from ongoing, costly and unsightly damage. Bust out the bucket, soap and water for a DIY wash, drive to your local automated car wash or patronize a car wash fundraiser; the method doesn’t really matter as long as your car comes out squeaky clean. “Once your car is dry, apply wax. A synthetic polymer-based wax will offer you longer-lasting protection,” advises Matthew C. Keegan, writer for NAPAonline.com.

While you are giving your car a spit shine, be sure use some elbow grease on the tires. “Because standard car wash cleaner will not get your tires sufficiently clean, use a dedicated tire and wheel cleaner,” advises Keegan. “Liberally apply the tire cleaner to the outer surface, then use a tire brush to vigorously scrub back and forth.”

Now is a good time to review the health of your car’s tires and wiper blades, too. Is the tread wearing unevenly? Are your tires inflated to the manufacturer-recommended psi?

DeMuro advises checking the blades for cracks and wear. Since wiper blades have a productive lifespan of approximately six months, Keegan recommends replacing your winter-weathered blades with new ones to take on the demands of spring and summer and again in the fall as part of your cold-weather car care prep.

Interior
You and your passengers probably tracked a lot of dirt, leaves, and in some places, salt, over the past few months onto your floor mats and the seats. Keegan says it’s time to fire up the vacuum to rid your interior of crumbs, dust, dirt and salt. He also recommends you apply a “foaming fabric and upholstery cleaner” to your cloth seats and to refer to your vehicle’s manual for instructions on how to clean and revitalize wood and leather materials.

Under the hood
Your car’s engine worked overtime getting you through winter and as a result is suffering from depleted resources. DeMuro recommends checking that your coolant is at its proper level as well as doing a review of your engine’s belts and hoses to make sure nothing is cracked, loose or broken. If you’re unsure what to look for, DeMuro advises taking it in for a service check, and while you’re at the shop, “ask for a quick suspension and alignment check.”

With these tips, your car will be ready to take on warmer temperatures and the demands of spring.

This article is presented by INFINITI of South Atlanta in Union City, GA.

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When was the last time you actually got to enjoy a hearty breakfast in the morning? Are you the type who’s always running out of the house without having a chance to enjoy your morning meal? It’s understandable – mornings can be hectic enough, but add in cooking a meal and your head probably spins.

However, as the old adage goes: Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. So it’s important to make the time for it. However, when researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) surveyed Americans what they eat for breakfast, about 20 percent admitted to skipping the meal altogether.

Skimping on breakfast can make your head foggy all day and even make you crave sugary calories later on. But if you do make time for a healthy meal, you’re doing your body and mind good.

“You will be more productive all day long if you just invest a few minutes in eating a healthy breakfast,” says Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD, professor of health and rehabilitation sciences at Boston University.

But that doesn’t mean slurping down a big bowl of sugary cereal or throwing a few microwavable sausages in the microwave. There are ways to save time in the morning while still getting to enjoy a delicious breakfast that’s easy to make and good for you, too. Here are a few busy-morning favorites:

Overnight oatmeal – Think you don’t have time to make a batch of oatmeal for breakfast? Think again. The night before you plan to eat this nutritious breakfast, mix together 2/3 cup almond milk (or regular milk), 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup vanilla or plain Greek yogurt and a pinch of cinnamon. Refrigerate the mixture overnight and voila – it’s ready to enjoy in the morning! The oats soak in a milk and yogurt mixture, which softens them to a creamy texture by the morning. It’s an instant, cold oatmeal that tastes great and doesn’t waste a moment of your morning.

Pull-together yogurt – Not a minute to spare before heading to work? At the start of each week, purchase five containers of plain Greek yogurt (a good source of protein and calcium). Then, scoop one serving of your favorite low-fat, high-fiber cereal or granola into five plastic snack bags. Take a yogurt and one of your cereal packs to work each morning and combine the two to enjoy them at your desk. Another tip: Store a bottle of Agave Nectar in your desk drawer to drizzle on when you’re craving a sweeter breakfast.

Sweet smoothie – The ingredient combinations for breakfast smoothies are endless – and one of the tastiest, easiest ways to enjoy your breakfast. If you don’t have time to blend the smoothie in the morning, cut up all your ingredients and place them in the blender the night before. Then put the blender in the refrigerator overnight. If the recipe calls for ice, you can add it in the next morning and then blend until smooth. If there’s any left over, you can store it in an air-tight container.

An easy recipe to use: 1/2 cup of strawberries, 1/2 cup of banana slices, 6 ounces of skim milk, and 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter. Combine the ingredients at night and then blend it in before you leave and you’ve got yourself an easy, delicious and healthy breakfast to keep you full all morning.

Breakfast pudding – Chia seed pudding, that is. This recipe couldn’t be quicker or more nutritious. The night before, simply combine 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1 cup coconut milk and a 1/2 tablespoon honey in a small bowl, mason jar or other to-go container. In the morning, just take it out of the fridge and it’s ready to eat. If you have time, you can top the pudding with fresh fruit and nuts. With just 206 calories, this delicious breakfast pudding is hard to beat.

Fast ‘n easy eggs – No time to deal with cooking an egg on the stove? Beat two eggs in a microwave-safe container, and add a few of your favorite vegetables you prefer (tomatoes, spinach leaves, peppers, etc.), and if you’d like, sprinkle in a bit of cheese. Microwave the eggs for about 30 seconds, stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds. Then just place the lid on the container for a healthy to-go breakfast. You can also prep this the night before – just store the raw mixture in the refrigerator and simply heat it up in the morning.

Don’t skip breakfast and if you follow a few of these ideas, you’ll see that eating right in the morning is less complicated than you think.

This article is presented by INFINITI of South Atlanta, in Union City, GA.

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South Fulton Lifestyle Magazine’s Publisher, Michelle Willis, interviews INFINITI of South Atlanta’s President, John Abate, for an episode of ‘According to Michelle.’

This episode features an exclusive look at how Mr. Abate got his start in the Automotive Industry and Michelle gets a taste of what it’s like to sell an INFINITI.

For other episodes and more information about Michelle Willis and her web series, visit ‘According to Michelle’.

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A piece of chocolate a day keeping the doctor away? It may not be as absurd as it sounds.

Who can imagine Valentine’s Day without chocolate? We certainly can’t! But for most, chocolate is thought to be the kind of indulgence that can quickly derail a New Year’s diet resolution. It may come as something of a surprise then, to learn that there are actually a number of health benefits to eating chocolate!

Before you go grab a whole handful of chocolate candies this Valentine’s Day, it is important to understand the caveats. If you eat chocolate with reckless abandon, you will gain unwanted weight. Commercial chocolate products are high in added fat and refined sugar, which adds up to unnecessary calories. Eating chocolate to excess puts you at risk not only for weight gain, but also for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. As such, you should always eat chocolate in moderation; using a calorie-counting app to monitor your intake will help prevent adding on extra pounds.

It is also important to note that all chocolate is NOT created equal. Of all varieties of chocolate, dark chocolate, cacao and cocoa are considered by several experts to have the most beneficial qualities. According to Scientific American, a 2012 review of 20 different studies found that daily, moderated consumption of dark chocolate or cocoa resulted in an average drop of two to three points in blood pressure readings over a period of time.

To be sure that you are getting the proper benefits, Mary Engler, Ph.D., a professor of physiological nursing at the University of California at San Francisco, recommends to Women’s Health that, in a day, you eat no more than seven ounces of chocolate that consists of no less than 70 percent cacao or cocoa.

Just what are those benefits, though?

Antioxidants
According to WebMD, if a chocolate product contains a sizable amount of nonfat cocoa solids, then it tends to have a high level of antioxidants. Dark chocolate in particular contains a great deal of antioxidants, which help rid your body of cell-damaging free radicals. Steady consumption of antioxidant-rich foods is associated with a lowered risk of cancer and a slowing of the aging process.

Reduced heart attack risk
The presence of flavanols in cocoa not only introduces antioxidants into the body, but the flavanols are also the ingredient best associated with lowered blood pressure and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. According to Diane Becker, M.P.H., Sc.D., a researcher at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, daily consumption of flavanol-rich dark chocolate can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 50 percent due to its connection with slowing clotting in blood vessels.

Weight loss
Of course, over-consuming chocolate will lead to gaining unnecessary weight, but according to the University of Copenhagen, tempered chocolate intake can actually help you shed pounds. The research also showed that eating a small amount of dark chocolate on a daily basis helps curb your appetite for other sweets and fatty foods. By indulging your sweet tooth within reason, you will better overcome the mental hurdle that comes with cutting junk foods out of your diet.

Rich in essential vitamins and minerals
Another added benefit of dark chocolate in particular is its high potassium, copper, magnesium and iron content. These vitamins and minerals are key components to ensuring your health: copper and potassium are useful in lowering your risk of stroke and heart disease; iron helps prevent anemia; and magnesium fights high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Again, it should be noted that chocolate will only prove beneficial for your health if you consume it in an appropriate fashion. But this Valentine’s Day, if you are able to regulate your intake and limit it only to the purest chocolates possible, then you may find yourself benefitting in a number of surprising ways.

This article is presented by INFINITI of South Atlanta in Union City, Georgia.

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Small things that will help you get the most out of your vehicle.

A little bit of attention to these seemingly minor tasks will save you money, enhance your safety and that of your passengers, and help ensure a long and satisfying ownership experience with your vehicle. Whether you service your vehicle yourself or enjoy the convenience of using our dealer’s factory-trained personnel, use this list to help you get started:

Read Your Owner’s Manual
Every vehicle has its own service schedule and individual nuances. All of those things and many more are covered in your owner’s manual. It’s important to know what all the lights mean, how the dials and buttons work, and how and when to take care of your vehicle and all its parts. Some people read their owner’s manuals from cover to cover as soon as they get a new vehicle while others pick and choose the chapters of greatest interest; whichever type of driver you are, be sure to ask one of our factory-trained technician if you ever have any questions.

Get Your Tires Rotated and Balanced, and Ask About a Wheel Alignment
Your vehicle is only as good as the rubber it’s riding on – even a supercar won’t get very far with a flat tire. Your tires don’t always wear evenly when you drive, even when your wheels are properly aligned, so getting your tires rotated and balanced is important to extend their life. Check your owner’s manual or ask your service technician how often it should be done on your particular vehicle. Making sure your tires/wheels are balanced is important as well, to ensure proper weight distribution and a comfortable ride. An alignment adjusts the angles of the wheels to factory specifications. After a long winter of potholes and rough driving, it’s important to be sure both your front and rear wheels are still in alignment. We often offer seasonal alignment specials, so watch for coupons on our website!

Check your Belts
Some of your vehicle’s moving parts may rely on belts to keep them going. If you hear any squeaking or high-pitched squealing when you start your vehicle, that might be a sign that it’s time to have your belts checked. Waiting too long can result in a broken belt and possibly wider damage. A serpentine belt, for example, normally drives things like the power steering, alternator and other items, so if it malfunctions, you’re going to have bigger problems. When you have your oil changed, check your belts for obvious cracks, chips or signs of dry rot, and have them replaced at the recommended intervals, even if they look ok.

Clean Your Headlamps
It may sound obvious, but even a thin coating of dust, mud, snow or salt film can severely impact your visibility, especially in poor weather. The durable polycarbonate plastic from which many headlamps are made can also become excessively chipped, scratched or cloudy over time, from both the elements and long-term UV exposure, and this can also reduce the amount of light you get from your headlamps. Keep them clean and inspect them regularly. If you notice a problem, ask our service department for suggestions to correct the issue; they may also recommend something you can treat the plastic with to help protect it and extend its life.

Replace Your Filters
Many of today’s vehicles have monitors that prompt you when it’s time to change your oil, but there aren’t filter replacement reminders and items like filters don’t always come to mind, especially if you change your oil yourself. Failure to replace filters–such as fuel, air and oil filters–can cause damage, reduce fuel economy and increase emissions. The same goes for the cabin air filter that helps remove pollutants, allergens and noxious fumes from the air being drawn into your vehicle. Best of all, filters are normally not expensive to replace–in vehicles with complimentary factory maintenance, some filters may even be replaced for free–so be sure to have them checked regularly and replaced when needed.

With so many things already on your mind, getting your car serviced can be overlooked. Fortunately, there is some impressive technology out there that can help you ensure the work gets done. If you have a smartphone, there are some excellent apps available, ranging from basic to intricate, to help guide you. Road Trip, an app available for iPhones/iPads, tracks your maintenance schedule, fuel economy and other expenses. For android users, Car Maintenance Reminder is similar and can send reminders when a service due date approaches. Other apps include aCar and AutoCare, or you can search your favorite app store to find the right one for you. Many automobile manufacturers also offer automated service reminders via email and/or smartphone app.

Our Service Department is always the best resource for any automotive issue you have, so stop in and talk with factory-trained personnel about your vehicle questions and service needs.

This article is presented by INFINITI of South Atlanta in Union City, Georgia.

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