As Holiver31 said, there is a release button at the back of the switch, LH side, with the back being toward the dashboard. Push down on the button and pull the **** out as you hold the button. The **** and the control rod will come out together. To put it (them) back in, you don't have to mess with the button...just push the rod and **** back in all the way.
The hook tool is used to remove the wiper ****, which has a metal tab cast into the plastic. You have to pry the tab up from the back of the **** and hold it up as you pull the **** out until the tab has passed over the groove it sits in. I didn't have a hook tool, so I just used a bent-over cotter pin. It worked like a charm. To reinstall, simply push the **** back on.