Question How to get stickiness out from under ThinkPad X1 Yoga shift key?

whynotme

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Aug 20, 2019
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5th gen Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga - spilled something sticky on the keyboard, thankfully only on the right shift key. It's really sticky to press and it doesn't pop back up right away. I've seen lots of videos of fixing on random laptops but none on a ThinkPad X1 series. Can I just pop off the key cap, swab around with some rubbing alcohol and pop the cap back on? Albeit very carefully? Thank you
 
Since what you've doused on the keyboard is the sugar/residue impeding the keypress/keystroke. You're options are to either use an ultrasonic cleaner or replace the entire keyboard assembly.

If you do decide to go with an ultrasonic cleaner, you'll need to disassemble the laptop, disconnect all power sources and after your session with said cleaner, to dry the laptop and then reassemble it.

You can't use isopropyl alcohol since that will denature the plastic on your laptop and eventually cause it to disintegrate.
 
Since what you've doused on the keyboard is the sugar/residue impeding the keypress/keystroke. You're options are to either use an ultrasonic cleaner or replace the entire keyboard assembly.

If you do decide to go with an ultrasonic cleaner, you'll need to disassemble the laptop, disconnect all power sources and after your session with said cleaner, to dry the laptop and then reassemble it.

You can't use isopropyl alcohol since that will denature the plastic on your laptop and eventually cause it to disintegrate.
Well that's depressing. I was hoping I could just pop off the key cap like I seen in so many videos. Oh well. I'm not up for a total disassemble. New ThinkPad in my future? I like my X1 Yoga though so maybe contemplate having a Lenovo authorized repair shop give it a shot.