polishing stainless steel

No, as it is a byproduct left over from polishing and imbedded in the surface of the metal.
There is a cleaner called Barkeepers Friend that cleans it off really well.
We use it for stainless appliances because of this residue.
It's a lot like Comet but made for stainless and other surfaces.

Some say mineral spirits works also but I have never tried it since the Barkeepers Friend works so well.