# How does stainless steel remove onion odors?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-stainless-steel-remove-onion-odors/192445>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 1, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-stainless-steel-remove-onion-odors/192445 "2003-08-01T21:41:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Big\_Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Big\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Jeff)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-stainless-steel-remove-onion-odors/192445/1 "2003-08-01T21:41:44Z")

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I’ve heard anecdotes that stainless steel will remove onion odors from one’s hands if rubbed on the skin under running water. I’m skeptical. I need a scientific explanation, not confirmatory anecdotes. Can anyone provide an answer?

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-stainless-steel-remove-onion-odors/192445/2 "2003-08-01T21:54:21Z")

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You’ve heard a variant of the Stainless steel/Garlic story.  
The Master Speaks: [Can stainless steel and running water remove the smell of garlic?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990618b.html)  
More from the Teeming Millions: [Stainless Steel “Soap”? Huh?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173472)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Big\_Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Big\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Jeff)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-stainless-steel-remove-onion-odors/192445/3 "2003-08-01T21:58:04Z")

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Thanks a lot, Squink. I searched the site but came up empty. I knew the master would have answered this at one time or another.

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**Author:** ![bubba\_jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@bubba\_jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba_jr)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-stainless-steel-remove-onion-odors/192445/4 "2003-08-02T00:33:53Z")

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It really works with garlic, rub your hands in a bunch of garlic and then get em wet, rub on the faucet in the kitchen, I’m pretty sure it works on stainless and chrome. Make sure you rub between your fingers and whatnot. It really does work.