A DKS inspection lets a cleaning company measure its own quality
A DKS inspection is a sample check in which a cleaning company measures the quality of its own cleaning. DKS stands for Dagelijks Kontrole Systeem, the Dutch daily control system, and is set out in the Dutch standard NEN 2075. The inspector checks a number of rooms, records defects per element such as dust, dirt and residue, and calculates a score. The site supervisor uses that result to make adjustments straight away. A DKS inspection is different from a VSR inspection or a SIEV audit. Those are carried out by an independent party.
“It looks clean” is not a measurable agreement. Two people can look at the same toilet and see something different. That is why the Dutch cleaning sector has fixed measurement systems. They turn quality into a score you can make agreements about.
In this article you will learn what a DKS inspection is, how it works, which defects are measured and how we measure at Reino with the Appreo app.
DKS, VSR-KMS and SIEV audit: what is the difference?
In cleaning you will come across three types of quality inspection. The NEN 2075 standard separates process control from contract control. The DKS inspection is for process control. The VSR inspection is for contract control. The SIEV audit belongs to the industry quality mark.
| DKS inspection | VSR-KMS inspection | SIEV audit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Monitor the cleaning process and adjust straight away | Establish objectively whether the contract is being met | Assess whether a company may keep the quality mark |
| Who measures | The site management of the cleaning company | An independent, certified VSR inspector | An independent auditor on behalf of SIEV |
| How often | Regularly, in contracts often monthly | Usually 1 to 4 times per year | Every year, unannounced or semi-announced |
| Result | A score and specific improvement points per room | Pass or fail per room group | A score per room type, at least 7.0 |
The three inspections complement each other. With DKS you keep quality at the right level every month. A VSR inspection or SIEV audit confirms from the outside that this is working.
How does a DKS inspection work?
A DKS inspection is a visual check. The inspector looks at what is there, without tools. An inspection follows five steps.
1. Choose the sample
The inspector selects a number of rooms from each room group. Think of offices, washrooms, circulation areas such as corridors and stairs, and the pantry. You do not need to check every room to get a reliable picture.
2. Check element by element
In each room the inspector checks the elements in the cleaning schedule. For example the floor, the desk top, the bin, the washbasin and the door handle. Only what was cleaned under the agreement is assessed.
3. Record defects
Every defect is recorded with its type and location. At Reino we do this in the Appreo app, with a photo.
4. Calculate the score
The number of defects is compared with the number of elements checked. That gives a score per room group and for the whole building. Contracts often set a maximum permitted deviation.
5. Discuss and adjust
The result goes straight back to the cleaner on site. Defects are put right and improvement points become a fixed task in the cleaning schedule.
Which defects are measured?
Quality inspections work with fixed types of defect. That way every inspector assesses in the same way. These are the types you will see most often.
| Type of defect | Example | What it says about the cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Light dust | A thin layer of dust on a windowsill or desk top | The element was skipped or not wiped properly |
| Heavy dust | Built-up dust in corners, on skirting boards or behind a radiator | The element has not been included for some time |
| Dirt | Crumbs, sand, paper scraps or a full bin | The room was not done or was done too quickly |
| Residue | Limescale on a tap, stains, fingerprints on glass | The wrong product or too little attention to stubborn dirt |
| Method | Streaks on the floor, an overly wet mop, incorrect dosing | The work was not done according to the agreed method |
Not every defect carries the same weight. Washrooms and pantries have stricter standards than corridors and offices, because hygiene matters most there.
What does the score mean?
A DKS score shows how many elements do not meet the agreement. The lower the deviation, the better the quality. Clients often set a maximum. One example from practice is an average deviation of no more than 14 percent.
Do not look at the score alone. The value of an inspection lies in what you do with it. If the same defect returns every month in the same place, the cleaning schedule is not right. You then adjust the tasks or the frequency.
How we measure at Reino
At Reino we carry out the DKS inspections ourselves. Owner Yannick Nieuwenhoven or a regular colleague does the check on site. That way we see for ourselves how things stand at your location.
The inspections are scheduled in advance in the Appreo app. So no inspection gets pushed back when things are busy. During the check we record every defect digitally, with a comment and a photo. This is what happens next.
- A defect that needs fixing straight away becomes a task in Appreo. The regular cleaner sees the notification and picks it up.
- A recurring point is discussed with the cleaner and adjusted in the cleaning schedule.
- All inspections stay stored in Appreo. That is the log of your location.
The other way round, our cleaners report what they notice themselves, such as a defect or an unsafe situation. So problems come to light before you see them.
If you use results-driven cleaning, the DKS inspection matters even more. You pay for an agreed quality level, not for fixed tasks. The inspection shows that level is being met.
What the SIEV audit shows
Our own inspections are tested from the outside every year. On 11 June 2026 we renewed the SIEV quality mark for the third year in a row. The auditor from Qualis Insight checked three locations.
- A community location in the Haarlemmermeer scored 9.1.
- A hospital pharmacy in Haarlem scored 9.7, up from 9.5 in 2025.
- A medical tissue facility in Haarlem scored 9.8, up from 9.4 in 2025.
The minimum score for the quality mark is 7.0 per room type. Both returning locations scored higher than the year before. For us, that is proof that structured measuring works.
What does a DKS inspection give you as a client?
- You talk about facts instead of feelings. A complaint becomes a measuring point.
- Problems are solved before they become complaints.
- You can see whether quality rises or falls over several months.
- You have evidence for an audit, an inspection or a question from your board.
- The cleaning schedule fits better with how your building is really used.
Questions to ask your cleaning company about quality control
- Do you carry out DKS inspections yourselves, and how often?
- Who carries out the inspection, and does that person know the location?
- Will I see the results, and how?
- What happens to a defect after the inspection?
- Are you SIEV certified, and what were your latest scores?
- Will you cooperate with an independent VSR inspection if I want one?
A cleaning company that gives specific answers, with examples and reports, takes quality seriously. You will find more characteristics in our article on finding a reliable cleaning company.
About Reino Interieurverzorgers
Reino is a family business from Haarlem with more than 87 years of experience in commercial cleaning. We work with regular cleaners per site, a fixed site supervisor as your contact, our own DKS inspections and the Appreo app for reports and logging. We are SIEV certified, uphold the Code of Responsible Market Conduct and use EU Ecolabel products. We serve Haarlem, Hoofddorp, Schiphol-Rijk, Lijnden, Amstelveen and the Haarlemmermeer. Read more about our certifications and quality or request a no-obligation quote.
