Car Care: Back to School Checklist

INFINITI of South Atlanta is excited to welcome Glenn Hartley as the new Service Department Manager! An Atlanta native, Glenn has spent most of his life in the area, growing up in Doraville near Spaghetti Junction and attending Georgia State University after high school. Glenn began his automotive career in December 1985 at Goodyear, gaining extensive experience throughout Atlanta before taking the next step in 1993 by joining a Toyota dealership in Chamblee. Over the years, he steadily advanced in the industry, earning his first Service Manager position in 2003. Outside of work, Glenn enjoys spending time with his family. He and his wife Robin have been married for 25 years and are proud parents of three daughters. His personal interests include woodworking, boating, and tackling DIY projects around the house. With his decades of experience and dedication to excellent service, Glenn Hartley brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to INFINITI of South Atlanta’s Service Department, ensuring every customer receives the exceptional care they deserve. Join us in welcoming him to the team as we look forward to the future of INFINITI of South Atlanta!

INFINITI of South Atlanta is a proud sponsor and regular donor of Meals on Wheels of Coweta! Meals on Wheels of Coweta is a non-profit organization offering free services to seniors who are homebound because of disability, chronic illness and don’t receive regular assistance from others. Since many are unable to prepare meals for themselves, Meals on Wheels volunteers prepare and deliver home-cooked meals 5-7 days a week. What many don’t know is Meals on Wheels of Coweta offers services other than providing meals! They also offer handyman repairs, friendly visits to combat loneliness, as well as, pet food/care assistance. Meals on Wheels of Coweta does not receive financial support from the government so, without donors, grantors or volunteers, this organization would not exist. If you are interested in donating, volunteering or simply want more information about this amazing organization, visit, www.MealsOnWheelsOfCoweta.org. You can also email them at mowcoweta@numail.org.

No matter how much work you put into keeping your vehicle's exterior looking clean and shiny, passengers are likely going to be more interested in how you take care of it on the inside. If your vehicle's upholstery is dingy, stained or emitting some strange odor, you'll want to take steps to ensure that your interior is looking every bit as good as your exterior. Not only will this prevent passengers from turning up their noses at you, but it will also help your vehicle retain more of its value over time, which helps if you decide that you'd like to sell it one day. Stock up on the right supplies Before you dive into cleaning your interior, be sure you have everything you need at your disposal. Running in and out of the house or to and from the store for cleaning tools will make upholstery care a much bigger chore than it needs to be. YourMechanic's Mark Vallet recommends essentials such as microfiber cloths; a soft, clean sponge or cloth; a vacuum; a bucket of warm water; and a bristled, yet soft scrubbing brush. You'll also need some kind of upholstery cleaner, but you should take care to ensure that the product that you choose is appropriate for the material in your vehicle. Apply care 101 Before you get into the nitty-gritty or nooks and crannies of upholstery care, it's good to start by removing any clutter on, under or around your seats. You'll also want to take out any floor mats to ensure that you clean the area beneath them. Once your seats and floors are bare, use your vacuum to remove dust, dirt and debris. Vallet recommends a wet/dry vacuum due to its superlative cleaning power and an extended cord and hose. Once you are satisfied that you've vacuumed up as much of the dirt as you can, Vallet suggests going over your surfaces with a moist cloth and spot-testing your cleaning agent. Refresh cloth seats If you would prefer a more natural solution to cleaning your cloth seats, or even just a more affordable choice, you can easily concoct a home remedy that is as effective as anything you'll find at the store. Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks suggests combining a gallon of water with a cup of vinegar and a touch of dish soap. Using a hard-bristle brush, lightly apply this mixture to your fabric surfaces and let sit for 30 minutes. Once it's sat long enough, apply warm water and blot dry. If you want something more fragrant, you can include a few drops of essential oils to your cleaning mixture. This provides a fresh scent without the heaviness of a chemical solution. Condition leather upholstery Leather upholstery requires a softer touch than fabric upholstery, which is why DIY Network recommends against using ammonia- or bleach-based cleaners. If you don't want to invest in a leather-specific cleaning substance, you can make your own homemade solution by mixing five parts warm water with one part liquid dish soap in a bucket. Apply to a cloth and wipe down your seats and surfaces thoroughly. Use a second cloth, damp with water, to wipe clean and a towel to dry. If your elbow grease is just not enough to renew your car's interior satisfactorily, or your schedule is just too packed to do your vehicle justice, consider reaching out to the professionals to get the job done properly. Your vehicle is one of your biggest investments, and spending a little time or money to make sure that its interior is well-maintained is well worth the return. This article is presented by INFINITI of South Atlanta in Union City, GA.