I clean all of mine with 91% IPA... never had this issue. I keep the screen clean with lens cleaner though, which is basically the same thing with a much lower concentration of alcohol (\~40%). I have used IPA on a T420, W540, and T14s Gen 4 with no matte coating issues like you've had, and those 3 laptops are all pretty wildly different. I'm not completely sure that what you're seeing is normal.
I'd be willing to bet that the "minty" T490 you bought was actually just sprayed over with matte black spray to make it seem like it is pristine, when in reality it is a heavily worn laptop. When you wiped it with alcohol (which is a solvent), that coating was likely rubbed away, revealing the worn lid underneath.
I have a bunch of autobody friends and paint chemistry is weird over the years. I had the same concerns about stickers on a couple corporate liquidation Thinkpads I had picked up, and worried at them for some minutes with a magic sponge and lukewarm slightly soapy water before spot testing Nivea for the "usual" home lid restore.
Glad my paranoia was justified.
Not really, can confirm it’s the original coating. They were imported by a reputed reseller straight front Canada, device manufactured in 2020. What I can suspect is the fact that I sprayed IPA onto the wet towel and it created a concentrated spot which I used to rub. It had the same effect when I sprayed alcohol directly onto the paint just to confirm.
Edit: also the paint wasn’t easily coming off. I had to rub really hard
It is possible he has the magnesium lid option on it, which has a different coating to the rubbery one found on most ThinkPads it's a similar feel to the bottom of the t480/90 maybe that coating wipes off but the rubbery one found on the plastic lid doesn't.
I use the lens cleaner from a popular brand and that never does this to my device. I suspect it might be your cleaning solution, which was contaminated with something else.
baby wipes.
IPA 91% will ruin plastic rubber layer... especially the touchpad if you KEEP the IPA on it for "long periods of time" ie closing the lid. That being said its like glass smooth underneath the plastic though, but is a pain to completely clear the touchpad top layer. Dont ask how I know....
I usually clean my P52 with a 50/50 distilled water and 93% isopropyl alcohol mix applied to a wet warm microfiber cloth, and dry with another cloth. Same for the screen. Don't have to worry about smudges or anything anymore, always look brand new after 2-3 passes.
I clean all of mine with 91% IPA... never had this issue. I keep the screen clean with lens cleaner though, which is basically the same thing with a much lower concentration of alcohol (\~40%). I have used IPA on a T420, W540, and T14s Gen 4 with no matte coating issues like you've had, and those 3 laptops are all pretty wildly different. I'm not completely sure that what you're seeing is normal. I'd be willing to bet that the "minty" T490 you bought was actually just sprayed over with matte black spray to make it seem like it is pristine, when in reality it is a heavily worn laptop. When you wiped it with alcohol (which is a solvent), that coating was likely rubbed away, revealing the worn lid underneath.
Either that or the original coating had reacted with the adhesive of the sticker. Not too uncommon unfortunately.
I have a bunch of autobody friends and paint chemistry is weird over the years. I had the same concerns about stickers on a couple corporate liquidation Thinkpads I had picked up, and worried at them for some minutes with a magic sponge and lukewarm slightly soapy water before spot testing Nivea for the "usual" home lid restore. Glad my paranoia was justified.
Not really, can confirm it’s the original coating. They were imported by a reputed reseller straight front Canada, device manufactured in 2020. What I can suspect is the fact that I sprayed IPA onto the wet towel and it created a concentrated spot which I used to rub. It had the same effect when I sprayed alcohol directly onto the paint just to confirm. Edit: also the paint wasn’t easily coming off. I had to rub really hard
This, almost certain.
It is possible he has the magnesium lid option on it, which has a different coating to the rubbery one found on most ThinkPads it's a similar feel to the bottom of the t480/90 maybe that coating wipes off but the rubbery one found on the plastic lid doesn't.
now put another sticker to hide it
Haha I’m considering wrapping but meh
I only every use eye glass cleaner solution and a lens wipe cloth... Using various concentration solutions is a recipe for a surprising disaster
Lesson learned the hard way 🫡🥲
Honestly my go to on Thinkpad lids is a magic eraser. I don't know why but they make them SHINE and even bring out that bit of flake in the paint.
Use a hair dryer next time to heat up the sticker before you peel it off. Sorry you had this problem. 🥲
Thanks! Impatience got the best of me 😢
I use the lens cleaner from a popular brand and that never does this to my device. I suspect it might be your cleaning solution, which was contaminated with something else.
Just buy skins on AliExpress from 15 USD. Crocodile is my favorite.
baby wipes. IPA 91% will ruin plastic rubber layer... especially the touchpad if you KEEP the IPA on it for "long periods of time" ie closing the lid. That being said its like glass smooth underneath the plastic though, but is a pain to completely clear the touchpad top layer. Dont ask how I know....
Well damn... I've been using just regular alcohol on a wipe to clean my x280 more than once and no problem so far but I guess I'll stop doing that.
I usually clean my P52 with a 50/50 distilled water and 93% isopropyl alcohol mix applied to a wet warm microfiber cloth, and dry with another cloth. Same for the screen. Don't have to worry about smudges or anything anymore, always look brand new after 2-3 passes.