A salt cell chlorinator adapted to run a self-cleaning program by scraping off residual buildup, the salt cell chlorinator having: electrodes arranged in a line within a housing, each electrode having: a first face; and an opposite second face; rotary wipers arranged within the line of the electrodes, such that each rotary wiper is adapted to make contact with at least one electrode of the electrodes, wherein each rotary wiper is adapted to rotate simultaneously on the first face or the second face of the electrodes; a drive motor adapted to cause a rotation of the rotary wipers; a control panel adapted to customize the self-cleaning program to run at a predetermined time interval; wherein the rotation of the rotary wipers removes the residual buildup from the electrodes; and wherein the predetermined time interval occurs between occurrences of the chlorination program.