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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                     LEGAL OPINION OF PEDERSEN & HOUPT, P.C.

                       (Pedersen & Houpt, P.C. Letterhead)

   
                                October 20, 1998
    

SpinCycle, Inc.
15990 North Greenway/Hayden Loop
Suite 400
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

              Re:      SpinCycle, Inc.
                       Registration Statement (333-57883)

Gentlemen:

            We have acted as counsel to SpinCycle, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement
on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-57883 and all amendments thereto (as may
hereafter be amended, the "Registration Statement"), which has been filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") for the
purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder the issuance of
$144,990,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of Series B 12 3/4% Senior
Discount Notes due 2005 (the "New Notes") of the Company to be issued pursuant
to an Indenture dated as of April 29, 1998 (the "Indenture") between the Company
and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee"), in exchange for
$144,990,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of Series A 12 3/4% Senior
Discount Notes due 2005 (the "Old Notes") of the Company.

            This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements
of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act").

            In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 as filed with the Commission on June 26, 1998
under the Act, Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on September 25, 1998 and Amendment
No. 2 thereto with which this opinion is being filed; (ii) the Indenture; (iii)
the form of the New Notes, included as an exhibit to
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October 20, 1998
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the Indenture; (iv) the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 29, 1998
among the Company and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the "Registration
Rights Agreement"); and (v) the Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We have also examined
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
such other records of the Company and such agreements, certificates or records
of public officials, certificates of officers or representatives of the Company,
respectively, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have
deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.
The documents described in clauses (ii) and (iii) are referred to herein as the
"Operative Documents."

            In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures (including endorsements), the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to
original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic
copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making our
examination of executed documents (including the Operative Documents), we have
assumed that the parties thereto (including the Company) had the power,
corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and
have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or
other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and (except
to the extent we have opined on such matters below with respect to the Operative
Documents) that such documents constitute valid and binding obligations of such
parties. In providing the opinion set forth below, we have also assumed that the
execution and delivery by the Company of the Operative Documents and the
performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder do not and will not
violate, conflict with, or constitute a default under (i) any agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any of its properties is subject, (ii) any
law, rule, or regulation to which the Company or its properties is subject other
than securities or anti-fraud laws of any jurisdiction, but without our having
made any special investigation concerning any other laws, rules or regulations;
provided, however, except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this
clause (ii) with respect to the laws, rules and regulations of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and of the United States of America
which, in our
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October 20, 1998
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experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by
the Operative Documents, (iii) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any
governmental authority or (iv) any consent, approval, license, authorization or
validation of, or filing, recording or registration with any governmental
authority. Based solely upon discussions with officers of the Company
responsible for such matters and review of material documents identified to us
by such officers, there are no such violations, conflicts or defaults. Based on
our due diligence investigation, we do not know of any other such violations,
conflicts or defaults. As to any facts material to the opinion expressed herein
which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral
or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives
of the Company and the Trustee and others.

            We are members of the Bar of the State of Illinois, and we express
no opinion with respect to laws other than the laws of the State of Illinois,
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and federal laws of the
United States of America.

            Based upon and subject to the limitations, qualifications,
exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when (i)
the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Act and the Indenture has
been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and (ii) the
New Notes are executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms
of the Indenture and issued upon consummation of the exchange offer as
contemplated by the Registration Statement, the New Notes will constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except that (A) the enforcement thereof may be subject to, or limited by, (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity),
(B) the waiver contained in Section 5.15 of the Indenture may be deemed
unenforceable and (C) the rights to indemnification and contribution contained
in the Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by state or federal
securities laws or the public policy underlying such laws.
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Additionally, the enforceability of provisions imposing a payment obligation
pending the ability of the Company to comply timely with its registration
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture may be
limited by applicable laws.

   
            We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not
thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the
Commission.
    

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              /s/  Pedersen & Houpt, P.C.