Sticky keyboard. Solution

Dell xps laptop about 8 years old. Suddenly the keyboard surface is very sticky. I have this happen previously on an electronic device. The manufacturers coat surfaces in something protective which eventually becomes horribly sticky

It took me about two hours to sort, I did not do any keys, just the annoying surround. Used rubbing alcohol, a pastry brush and an old credit card and eventually a fine flat sharp knife when the card became bendy

It does work, just needed some patience. The surface is no longer sticky and all my keys still work. I did put a few fine scratches on the surface but so what. I also had to do around the side edges. Weirdly it all became sticky at once and it would not clean any normal way

I did not have to take any of it apart and was careful near keys