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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                     LEGAL OPINION OF PEDERSEN & HOUPT, P.C.

                       (Pedersen & Houpt, P.C. Letterhead)

                                October 29, 1998

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

                  Re:             SpinCycle, Inc.
                                  Registration Statement (333-57989)

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-1, Registration No. 333-57989 (as amended to date, 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 (i) 144,990 Warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase 26,661
shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Warrant
Shares") and (ii) the Warrant Shares. The Warrants were issued pursuant to a
Warrant Agreement (the "Warrant Agreement") dated as of April 29, 1998 between
the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Warrant Agent for the benefit
of the holders of the Warrants (in such capacity, the "Warrant Agent").

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

         In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration
Statement; (ii) the Warrant Agreement; (iii) the form of the Warrants, included
as an exhibit to the Warrant Agreement; and (iv) the Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of April 29, 1998 between the Company and Credit Suisse First
Boston Corporation (the "Registration Rights Agreement"). 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 
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SpinCycle, Inc.
October 29, 1998
Page 2

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 copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such copies. We have assumed that the parties
to such documents (including the Company) had the power and authority to enter
into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due
authorization by all requisite action, and execution and delivery by such
parties of such documents and (except 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, without
any special investigation, 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 (x) securities or anti-fraud laws of any
jurisdiction, (y) the laws, rules and regulations of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware and (z) the federal laws of the United States of
America which, in our 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. 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.

         With respect to the issuance of any Warrant Shares, we have assumed
that the issuance of such Warrant Shares will have been duly authorized and the
certificates evidencing the same will have been duly executed and delivered
against receipt of consideration approved by the Company which will be no less
than the par value thereof.

         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.
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SpinCycle, Inc.
October 29, 1998
Page 2

         In this regard, we note that the Operative Documents provide that the
laws of the State of New York are intended to be governing. For the purposes of
the opinions herein, we assumed, without any independent investigation, that the
laws of all jurisdictions that may govern the Operative Documents, other than
those specifically recited in the immediately preceding paragraph, are identical
to the laws of the State of Illinois.

         Based upon and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions
and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the
Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, (i) the
Warrants constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to
the benefits of the Warrant Agreement and enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms and (ii) the Warrant Shares, when issued and
delivered, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

         The foregoing opinion is limited by the following qualifications:

         (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 rights to indemnification and contribution contained in
                  the Warrant Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by
                  state or federal securities laws or the public policy
                  underlying such laws.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission  as
an  exhibit  to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference  to
our firm in the Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus as the same
appears  under  the  caption "Legal Matters." 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 Securities Act or the rules and regulations  of
the Commission.

                                Very truly yours,

                                /s/  Pedersen & Houpt, P.C.