Garlic soap? How on earth does this work!!!!

[colditzmum]

I saw one in a shop recently, and my dp assures me they really do work, but it looks like some sort of minimalist ornament - made of stainless steel, how can it possibly work? I am so curious about this!

Oh it does work.
I made pickled onions last year and couldn't sleep for days as i STUNK of onions!
My BIL from Canada brought me the stainless steel soap this year and i made them no problem, it just seems to wipe away odours.
Don't know how!!

Anyone else know how? I am intregued, and may now buy one.

You don't need to buy on - a stainless steel spoon will do the same trick. A knife works too but seems rather dangerous to me!

One theory is "How It Works

It makes sense to me that the sulfur from the onion/garlic would be attracted to and bind with one or more of the metals in stainless steel. Formation of such compounds is what makes stainless steel stainless, after all. Onions and garlic contain amino acid sulfoxides, which form propanethiol-S-Oxide (R-S(O)H), which reacts to produce sulfuric acid upon exposure to water. These compounds are responsible for burning your eyes while cutting onions and also for their characteristic scent. If the sulfur compounds bind to the steel, then the odor is removed from your fingers. It's possible that normal carbon steel would be even better at odor removal than stainless steel. However, steel doesn't work to remove high concentrations of sulfur compounds."

sounds great - and would never wear out!

SD, is this why putting a teaspoon in your mouth stops you from crying whilst peeling onions? Or is that a psychological thing?

No idea - never thought of it but it makes sense. It might be psychological but I guess the steel might absorb some of the stinging stuff. Perhaps it would work better if you put the handle in your mouth leaving the big bowl bit to catch the stingy stuff

I remember from the programme how clean is your house that 'kim & aggie' said rub your hands over your s/s tap in the kitchen. I have done this and it does work.

QVC sell a similar thing called Zilo. It's a small metal disc that sits in a case with some water in. There supposed to break down the odours molecular structure!