Abstract: An apparatus and a method for locking a wire basket or a pod carrier basket in a support base for cleaning in an ultrasonic cleaning bath are provided. In the apparatus, a support base is constructed of an open bottom panel and four vertical posts emanating upwardly from four corners of the bottom panel adapted for moving upwardly and downwardly in the cleaning bath. At last two locking means each mounted on a diagonally opposing vertical post are provided and each equipped with a hook or catch for locking onto one of the two horizontal handle bars provided on a wire basket that is positioned in the support base. The present invention novel locking means for locking a wire basket in a support base allows a wire basket that has lightened load to be positioned in the support base without causing bodily injury to a machine operator, and allows the wire basket to be securely locked in the support base during an ultrasonic cleaning procedure without the basket floating problem.