Your understanding is incorrect.

Stainless steel is an alloy composed mainly of iron, with added elements like chromium and nickel. The smooth, inert surface of stainless steel can attract and bind sulfur compounds from your skin. When you rub your hands against stainless steel, the sulfur compounds transfer from your skin to the steel, effectively reducing their concentration on your hands.

Water plays a crucial role in this process. As you rinse your hands and rub them against stainless steel, the surface acts as a catalyst for redox reactions. Sulfur compounds on your skin are chemically altered, potentially breaking them down into less odorous forms.