A WOMAN conducted her own science experiment using a public bathroom hand dryer - and it might make you think twice about using them.

Nichole Ward shared a stomach-churning picture of a Petri dish on Facebook, which she claims to have held under a Dyson Airblade for three minutes and left to "incubate" for 48 hours, reports The Sun.

She wrote: "OK guys ... ready to have your mind blown?!"

"This here, Is what grew in a Petri dish after just a few days," she says, showing an image of the Petri dish with all sorts of stomach-churning funk inside.

"I stuck the open plate in an enclosed hand dryer of a public bathroom for a total of three minutes. Yes 3 only. DO NOT EVER dry your hands in those things again.

"This is the several strains of possible pathogenic fungi and bacteria that you're swirling around your hands, and you think you're walking out with clean hands. You're welcome. "

It's unclear what sort of scientific background Nichole, from California, has - if any - to make her assessment.

Dyson said it was "surprised" by the results, noting that it was "unclear on the methodology employed".

A company spokesman said in a statement: "We're very surprised to see these results, and unclear on the methodology employed.

"All Dyson AirbladeTM hand dryers have HEPA filters that capture particles as small as bacteria from the washroom air before it leaves the machine.

"Dyson AirbladeTM hand dryers are proven hygienic by university research and are trusted by hospitals, food manufacturers and businesses worldwide."

Nevertheless, Ward's post has been shared more than 530,000 times since being made last week - and it's even caused countless people to start using paper towels again.

One Facebook user wrote: "So freaking nasty! Never using one of those blowers again."

Another said: "Nichole Ward for human of the year award."

Nichole told people in the comments section that she plans to take matters into her own hands.

She said: "From now on I just wash and scrub, and dry on my clothes or shake and air dry OUTSIDE of the [bathroom]."

This story was originally published in The Sun and is reprinted with permission.

A WOMAN conducted her own science experiment using a public bathroom hand dryer - and it might make you think twice about using them.

Nichole Ward shared a stomach-churning picture of a Petri dish on Facebook, which she claims to have held under a Dyson Airblade for three minutes and left to "incubate" for 48 hours, reports The Sun.

She wrote: "OK guys ... ready to have your mind blown?!"

"This here, Is what grew in a Petri dish after just a few days," she says, showing an image of the Petri dish with all sorts of stomach-churning funk inside.

"I stuck the open plate in an enclosed hand dryer of a public bathroom for a total of three minutes. Yes 3 only. DO NOT EVER dry your hands in those things again.

"This is the several strains of possible pathogenic fungi and bacteria that you're swirling around your hands, and you think you're walking out with clean hands. You're welcome. "

It's unclear what sort of scientific background Nichole, from California, has - if any - to make her assessment.

Dyson said it was "surprised" by the results, noting that it was "unclear on the methodology employed".

A company spokesman said in a statement: "We're very surprised to see these results, and unclear on the methodology employed.

"All Dyson AirbladeTM hand dryers have HEPA filters that capture particles as small as bacteria from the washroom air before it leaves the machine.

"Dyson AirbladeTM hand dryers are proven hygienic by university research and are trusted by hospitals, food manufacturers and businesses worldwide."

Nevertheless, Ward's post has been shared more than 530,000 times since being made last week - and it's even caused countless people to start using paper towels again.

One Facebook user wrote: "So freaking nasty! Never using one of those blowers again."

Another said: "Nichole Ward for human of the year award."

Nichole told people in the comments section that she plans to take matters into her own hands.

She said: "From now on I just wash and scrub, and dry on my clothes or shake and air dry OUTSIDE of the [bathroom]."

This story was originally published in The Sun and is reprinted with permission.