A vacuum cleaner comprises a housing and a motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow. A detachable dirt container is mountable to the housing and the dirt container has a dirty air inlet in fluid communication with the motor fan assembly. A filter is for separating dirt from the air flow and the filter is mounted between the dirt container and the motor fan assembly. Wherein the detachable dirt container comprises an emptying aperture in a wall of the dirt container, the emptying aperture being downstream in the air flow from the dirty air inlet and upstream of the filter. Wherein the housing comprises an overlap portion for covering the emptying aperture in the dirt container and sealing the emptying aperture when the detachable dirt container is mounted to the housing.