Why Choose Snapless Christmas Crackers? A Quieter Way to Celebrate

Discover the benefits of snapless Christmas crackers for quieter festive celebrations, with options from Tom Smith and Swantex available from Seldram Supplies.

Festive Christmas table setting with red plates, gold cutlery, napkins, crackers, pinecones, ornaments, and crystal glasses.

For many of us, the snap of a Christmas cracker is simply part of the festive season. It is one of those little traditions that has become inseparable from Christmas lunches, parties and family gatherings.

That sudden noise, however, is not always appropriate for every environment. Restaurants may want a calmer dining experience, care settings can have guests who are uncomfortable with unexpected noise, and some children or adults may simply prefer celebrations without the sudden bang.

Snapless Christmas crackers offer an alternative. They keep the familiar appearance and shared experience of a Christmas cracker while removing the snapping mechanism that creates the traditional noise.

What Is a Snapless Christmas Cracker?

A snapless cracker is essentially a Christmas cracker without the strip that creates the familiar bang when the cracker is pulled.

That does not mean losing everything else people associate with the tradition. Depending on the product, snapless crackers can still contain party hats, mottos, activities or other festive contents.

Seldram currently has snapless options from both Tom Smith and Swantex, making it possible to choose between different sizes, designs and styles for different festive settings.

Browse Snapless Christmas Crackers at Seldram

A Quieter Option for Christmas Events

One of the clearest benefits is simply the reduction in sudden noise.

In a busy restaurant or hotel, dozens of crackers being pulled at approximately the same time can create quite a lot of additional noise. Snapless crackers allow guests to take part in the tradition without adding another sharp sound to an already busy environment.

They can also be worth considering in care, education and community settings, or at events where organisers know some guests may be uncomfortable with unexpected loud noises. They do not need to replace traditional crackers everywhere. Instead, they provide another option when a quieter celebration is more appropriate.

Making Christmas More Inclusive

Christmas events often bring together a wide range of people, and something that seems like a small detail can affect how comfortable someone feels taking part.

Sudden noises can be unpleasant for some people with sensory sensitivities or anyone who simply dislikes being startled. Providing a snapless option means they can still join in with pulling crackers, wearing hats and sharing the contents without having to anticipate the bang.

For hospitality venues, schools, care settings and organisations planning larger Christmas events, that flexibility can make festive celebrations easier to tailor to the people attending.

A Good Choice for Children’s Christmas Events

Three festive Christmas cracker stacks decorated as Santa, a reindeer and a snowman on a white background.

Snapless crackers can work particularly well for children's Christmas lunches and parties.

The Tom Smith 7in Fun Activity No-Snap Crackers available through Seldram feature Santa, reindeer and snowman activity designs and include fun paper stickers. They are supplied in cases of 50 and are specifically made without a snap. The crackers are also made using recycled board and are recyclable where facilities exist.

That makes them an interesting option for schools, nurseries, children's parties and family hospitality events where the activity element can become part of the table experience.

A Snapless Option for Larger Hospitality Events

Six festive cracker-shaped treats stacked in two columns, red and green with gold stars and red ribbons on white background.

Seldram also lists the Swantex 9in Snapless Bright Stars Crackers, supplied in cases of 100. These contain a motto and party hat while removing the snap, making them particularly suited to larger festive dining occasions where organisers still want the traditional cracker experience.

The Swantex Bright Stars crackers are also described as recyclable and plastic-free, adding another consideration for businesses reviewing the waste created by seasonal events.

The Christmas Cracker Tradition Without the Bang

Snapless crackers are not necessarily about replacing the traditional Christmas cracker. For many occasions, the familiar snap will remain part of the fun.

Their real benefit is choice. They give businesses, schools, care providers, hospitality venues and event organisers another way to create Christmas tables that suit the people actually using them.

With options from Tom Smith and Swantex available through Seldram, a quieter Christmas table can still have the hats, activities, festive designs and shared cracker-pulling tradition, just without the unexpected bang.

View and Enquire About Snapless Christmas Crackers

What is a snapless Christmas cracker?

A snapless Christmas cracker is made without the snapping strip that creates the traditional bang when the cracker is pulled. It can still include familiar cracker contents such as hats, mottos or activities.

Who are snapless Christmas crackers suitable for?

They can be useful for restaurants, schools, care settings, children's events and other celebrations where sudden loud noises may be unwanted or uncomfortable for some guests.

Do snapless crackers still contain gifts and party hats?

This depends on the individual product. For example, Seldram's Swantex Bright Stars crackers contain a motto and party hat, while the Tom Smith Fun Activity crackers include paper stickers.

Where can I buy snapless Christmas crackers for a business or event?

Seldram Supplies stocks snapless Christmas crackers from Tom Smith and Swantex for festive dining, hospitality and seasonal events.

Public washroom germs. How to protect yourself.

Mar 10, 2025

4 min read

We've long been supporters of the power of hand hygiene, therefore, we believe good hand hygiene is vitally important when using public washrooms, where it can help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses.

It's nothing new to hear that sharing amenities such as toilet seats, toilet rolls, sinks, and taps with strangers have been linked to health risks; some claims are credible and others are little more than 'myths'.

Following Steve Palmer from Tork manufacturer SCA's recent article in Cleaning and Maintenance magazine, we take a closer look at what type of infections and viruses you could possibly catch from a public washroom, and importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.

Hands with dark nails washing under a silver faucet with soap lather in a white sink. Background is a warm beige.

What Germs Are Really Lurking In Public Washrooms?

As high traffic areas, it's no surprise to hear that the use of public washrooms means exposure to germs. According to experts, there are any number of bacteria and viruses that could be lying in wait in public toilets – including streptoccus, E.coli, salmonella, typhoid fever and Hepatitis A.

So where are the germs lurking? The sink is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria as it is naturally wet for prolonged periods of time. Avoid touching the inside of the sink and you'll receive little to no risk of contamination. Other areas which receive frequent contact, meaning they are offer high risk include – light switches, door handles, taps, dispensers, and toilet seats, which you can find out more below. If you are responsible for the maintenance of washrooms, always make sure to give these areas your utmost attention.

Can I Catch Diseases From Toilet Seats?

If you've ever used a public washroom which was in need of a thorough clean, chances are you were most concerned about the cleanliness of the toilet seat. However, if you use a toilet seat cover, or cover the seat in toilet tissue, it will provide little more than comfort. The truth is that toilet seats are not a vehicle for the transmission of any infectious agents.

In an article by Huffington Post, Dr. William Schaffner, M.D., a professor of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains...

“Toilet seats were once thought to be a way of transmitting gastrointestinal or sexually transmitted infections, but that idea has since been refuted in research."

What might shock you, is that the toilet seat might actually be the cleanest surface in a public washroom. A 2014 US programme called 'The Drs' investigated the cleanliness of public washrooms by taking swabs of various surfaces and sending them to a lab for analysis. The toilet seat actually came out as the cleanest – beating other washroom surfaces such as taps, sinks, and toilet paper dispensers.

Limiting the spread of germs within an airborne environment can be easily achieved by closing the toilet seat lid when flushing, however many of us forget to do this on a regular basis. A 2011 study revealed that the number of viable C.difficile bacteria on surrounding surfaces following a toilet flush was 12 times higher when the toilet lid was open compared to when it had been closed. So remember to always 'put a lid on it' every time you flush!

3 Steps To Protecting Yourself From Germs In Public Washrooms

Although it might seem shocking to discover the extent of which germs are present in public washrooms, the good news is it's actually one of the best places where you could encounter a surface contaminated by harmful bacteria. With immediate access to soap, water, and hand towels you can easily remove the contamination from your hands.

We consider some tips below which you may wish to consider, whether you're using a washroom on a regular basis or are in charge of its maintenance.

Consider Enclosed Toilet Tissue Dispensers

As an area which receives regular contact, and may receive splashings of water and germs from the toilet bowl, research by Philip Tierno of the New York University Medical Centre recommends using dispensers which almost completely enclose the paper. The Versatwin by Leonardo are fantastic dispensers.

Practice Good Hand Hygiene

Washing our hands after using the toilet is the most crucial aspect of protecting ourselves from germs in public washrooms. The Centres for Disease Control states that we should wash our hands with running water for 20 seconds and then drying them thoroughly after each visit to avoid becoming ill or spreading germs to others. By doing this, it is relatively unlikely that you will pick up an illness in the washroom provided you practice good hand hygiene.

But methods for drying our hands 'thoroughly' have also been a point of contention recently, with both The European Tissue Symposium (ETS) and The Hygienic Efficacy of Different Hand-Drying Methods paper concluding that from a “hygiene viewpoint, paper towels are superior to electronic air dryers". Take a look at our Infographic Hot Air Hand Dryers vs Paper Towels to discover more.

Use 'No Contact Dispensers'

The risk of cross contamination can be reduced even further by using touch free electronic dispenser systems. Reducing contact points, soap dispensers such as our Merlin Gold Soap Dispeners are both a practical and elegant choice for busy washrooms. Touchless taps, paper hand dispensers and hand dryers are other examples of touchless technology – a logical step forward in the future of washroom hygiene. For extra peace of mind, touch free hand sanitising dispensers are perfect for public washrooms, hallways, offices and receptions alike.