This unit does what ultrasonic cleaners do--it generates teeny little bubbles that burst and create tiny explosions that remove dirt and grime from from nooks and crannies and all kinds of surfaces, and it is surprisingly gentle doing it. It heats up the water to your desired temperature and has a timer to count down the cleaning process. This particular unit is rated for 2 Liters of solution, but it seems like the tank only really wants to hold one liter. But I chalk that up to the difference between \"rated\" capacity and \"actual\" capacity that we've all become used to. The basket is small, measuring 5.75 x 5.25, and 3.5 inches deep, including the 1/2 inch legs. I have been unable to find a plastic replacement basket, which I prefer for things like jewelry and eyeglasses in order to reduce metal-to-metal contact in a vibrating environment. This is something that I read somewhere can be an issue, but I haven't encountered complaints about metal baskets in my google searches, so maybe it's not important. It seems to be a solid unit at an average price. I will keep this one for small parts, but will continue to use my larger unit with the plastic basket for eyeglasses and jewelry.