How do I clean and reassemble my French press?

All parts are 100% dishwasher safe; rinsing after each use and letting them dry before reassembling keeps everything in top shape. To reassemble the plunger, slide the filter parts onto the bottom of the rod in this order: the flat cross plate, the spiral spring plate, then the mesh screen on top, facing the coffee. Screw the rod into the center fitting until snug. The top knob and the base are separate threaded pieces — if the knob comes loose when you unscrew the base, hold the base and turn it gently to loosen it.