Test: "Soap" made of stainless steel? Can it work?
23.5.2017
Translation: machine translated
It can take a while to completely wash the odour of onions or garlic from your hands. The stainless steel anti-odour soap from WMF promises to help. Does it work? I put it to the test.
Do you love onions and adore garlic? Then you and I could get on pretty well. Because without these two culinary delights, I probably wouldn't enjoy some dishes quite as much. It's just stupid that they leave their mark in terms of odour. Even on my hands.
When I happened to come across this stainless steel anti-odour soap in our range, I could only frown. Why the hell is this thing called soap? At first I thought it might be possible to stick a bar of soap into the underside. This would make it a somewhat superfluous soap dispenser. Of course, I was wrong. In fact, you are supposed to hold the piece of stainless steel under the warm, running water like a normal bar of soap, rub your hands around it and remove any unwanted odours. Erm, okay.
I didn't quite believe it. Can something like this work better than a normal bar of soap? "One way to find out", as my esteemed work colleague Dominik Bärlocher would say.
A little theory first: is it all just a myth?
According to an expert report commissioned by a manufacturer of steel soap, the odour absorption effect has been experimentally confirmed as a phenomenon. However, there is still no scientific knowledge about the mechanism behind it.
The report also shows that there are two conceivable modes of action that could lead to an odour-neutralising effect. Either the finely structured surface of the stainless steel promotes the oxidation of odour molecules, making them water-soluble, or the odour molecules on the hands are bound to the stainless steel surface and accumulate there. I don't want to go into any more detail at this point, as the explanations are far beyond my chemistry skills and this brief explanation has already brought me to the end of my tether.
Proven or not, I just want to know whether this thing works.
Normal soap vs. stainless steel soap vs. water
After giving my hands a proper bath in a mountain of finely chopped onions and garlic, seasoned with a pinch of curry, I rubbed my right hand thoroughly against the stainless steel bar. Under warm running water, of course, as recommended. The result: the odour disappeared in a flash. Great - you might think. If it wasn't for the fact that I achieved the same result just by rubbing my hands with a combination of water and washing-up liquid. Even with just water, the onion odour evaporated.
Conclusion
If you can get rid of odours equally well with warm water (with or without soap), why do you need a stainless steel soap? My guess: the stainless steel soap is just unnecessary frills to keep your hands busy. I myself clearly prefer the tried-and-tested combination of washing-up liquid and water to remove odours. Not only does it get rid of the unpleasant odour, but it also has the side effect of leaving me with fragrant, hygienic patches. But as I said, just water will do in an emergency. But a stainless steel soap? Definitely superfluous!
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Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
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