There is Dust cup release need where the power cord connect to the vacuum. Once you have released the dust cup from the vacuum. First the are 4 parts to the dust cup, The actual dust cup, the housing for the filter and mesh screen. The dust cup will unscrew from the the housing which holds the filter and mesh screen. You can also pull out the filter and mesh screen out of the housing, If you have taken it apart fully you will have 4 seperate parts.