its very hard to get out from the top or bottom.
I find its quicker to just remove the exhaust manifold heat sheld and the secondary air injector pipes than messing about bursing and scratching your arms
Now just to clarify for the 2.0ltr crankcase breather pipe.
You can get to it by putting the car on a set of car ramps.
From underneath the car remove the underbelly cover ( if you have one) and undo the two 13mm bolts.
Then remove, (hoping that you have removed the hose from the cam cover), Once you have done this you can clean the breather. Spray carb cleaner down the tube and with a piece of cloth with wire wrapped around, pull the cloth through. If the tube is clogged then you will need to dig the crud out. The refitting is the same as removal but remembering to smear sealant around the bottom of the tube.
Thats how you remove and clean the crankcase breather. This tube is easy accessable from under the car, much quicker than removing the exhaust manifold heat shield and secondry air pipes etc.
I must have it down to a fine art removing the heat shield and secondry air injector pipes does not take me 5 mins or so to get it all out