About

Original Packaging 1975

The Spin-Clean story began in Chicago around 1974 when Fidelitone Inc., a manufacturer that sold record needles and other record accessories to retailers, created a record cleaning device called " Spin 'n Clean." Fidelitone's intentions were to try to market their record cleaner in all of the big box stores where they would pile them up on the floor in the now very seventies-looking colorful boxes, which you can see pictured in the photos on this page. They also made the product available to record stores throughout the US. One of their most successful independent record retailers was a company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania owned by Paul C. Mawhinney (my father) called Record-Rama Sound Archives. When you walked into Record-Rama in the mid seventies, the first thing you saw on the counter was the Spin 'n Clean Record Washer. We learned that if you demonstrate it, you will sell it, and sell it we did.

Spin Clean MKII Mold In Machine

When Fidelitone contacted Record-Rama and announced their decision to discontinue the product because it would not hang on a pegboard and sell itself, my father decided to call and tell them, "You can't do that! We sell tons of these!" He then decided to make them an offer to buy Spin 'n Clean and began manufacturing the product in Pittsburgh in 1975. Also at this time, he began selling a product called The Spin-Clean Record Washer nationwide through an established network of record dealers and libraries.

Hot Off The Press

I began my career in the retail audio business in the late seventies and always told my father that if he ever retired or got out of the record business, I would be interested in Spin-Clean. I felt it was a terrific product and thought it fit nicely into the audio business. In late 2009, my father retired, and Record-Rama was closed. In October of the same year, with the help of Chad Kassem, owner of Acoustic Sounds, I introduced the audio buying public and reviewers to Spin-Clean at The Rocky Mountain Hi-Fi Show in Denver. Over the early part of 2010, major improvements were made to every aspect of Spin-Clean, including redesigning and refinishing the molds. After 35 years on the market, the new Spin-Clean Record Washer System MKII started shipping in June of 2010 and is now being distributed all over the world to the delight of audiophiles and vinyl enthusiasts everywhere.

Original Fidelitone Spin-n-Clean 1974

Original Record-Rama Spin-Clean 1975

About Us

vinyl needle

Anyone who has used the conventional brush type record cleaners knows how awkward they are to use and that they have limited ability. The Spin-Clean® record washing system enables you to clean both sides of your record at once without using your valuable turntable as the cleaning device. With the Spin-Clean® record washing system, you'll add years to all of your equipment including turntables, stylus (needle) and of course your record collection. Here's how we do it:

Our Secret Advantage

Spin-Clean Record Washer MKII's secret weapon is its special washer fluid. This special formula encapsulates the dirt that comes off the record and sinks it to the bottom of the washer basin so it is not re-deposited back on to your valuable records. Why is Spin-Clean Bright Yellow? We chose bright yellow for the color of the Spin-Clean so you can see the dirt collecting at the bottom of the unit.

The Hand Held Brush or The Spin-Clean® Record Washing System

At the instant of contact how can you tell that you're pushing hard enough? If you have enough liquid on your brush, is it removing smudges and fingerprints? With Spin-Clean® record washing system, it's easy as one, two, three. Fill it, spin it, and dry it! You never have to adjust the brushes (they're pre-set at the right pressure). After three turns in the Spin-Clean® record washing system, the dirt and the fingerprints are gone on both sides of the record along with the static. You not only see the Spin-Clean® record washing system work, you can hear the difference in sound.

The Right Stuff

Spin Clean Record Washer MKII looks and feels right. It's inconspicuous in size, (six inches wide by fifteen inches long and six inches high), no power requirements making it the "Greenest" Record Cleaner in the industry, and best of all no installation make it a flexible and attractive Package. Each Spin-Clean MKII comes with a 4 oz. bottle of the MKII washer fluid which is enough fluid to clean up to 700 records, two washable and re-useable MKII drying cloths, one pair of MKII Brushes, one pair of MKII Rollers and a MKII owners manual.

Made in Pittsburgh

Spin-Clean is proudly manufactured and hand assembled in Pittsburgh, PA since 1975.

We feel that in today's marketplace it is very unusual to find a product in this price point that is not made in China. We are very proud to be "Made in the USA." The Spin-Clean Record Washer MKII has been manufactured and hand assembled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since 1975. If you have any questions about your Spin-Clean you can email your question to the Spin-Clean Expert using the form on our homepage or you can call us direct at 1-800-931-5850.

Corroborating Evidence

FIDELITONE INC., worldwide manufacturer and distribution of fine record and video accessories, tested the Spin-Clean® record washing system for RCA Records in 1976. The test results were remarkable! After Spin-Clean® record washing system had been used, output sensitivity was substantially increased. Channel separation was increased and amplified record noise was reduced. AUDIO MAGAZINE, a leading Hi-fi magazine, tested Spin-Clean® record washing system and found it to be excellent as a record cleaning device. They found this unit to be one of the most efficient record cleaners for dirty records.

Mobile DJ, Phil Schomer of ALEXANDER'S GRAHAM BELL, one of Pittsburgh's top singles spots featuring live entertainment, professed: “Spin-Clean® record washing system is the only record cleaning system I'll use, because I found it to be the most effective in removing smoke firm and other dirt without a buildup of residue on my cartridge and records. Now my discs always sound new and crisp.”

STEREO MAGAZINE, the nationally recognized leader in stereo equipment publications, stated “There's no question that the Spin-Clean® record washing system does remove surface dirt and fingerprints.” The reviewer went on to say, “After processing a dozen or so discs, the solution was clouded with minute bits of debris, and the discs themselves looked a lot cleaner." He also remarked how a few of his children's collection, which had been really dirty, played a lot cleaner”. Finally he said, “If one has some very dirty discs, Spin-Clean® record washing system is certainly one way to clean them.