Financing Arrangements (Summary of Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including current maturities	$ 2,490	$ 2,507
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	361	312
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	2,129	2,195
Senior Note - 6.125%, maturing 2011 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes		300
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Stated interest rate	6.125%
Senior note - 8.0%, maturing 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	350	350
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Stated interest rate	8.00%
Medium-term note - 5.5%, maturing 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Medium-term Notes	500	500
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2013
Stated interest rate	5.50%
Maytag medium-term note - 6.5%, maturing 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Medium-term Notes	101	101
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2014
Stated interest rate	6.50%
Senior note - 8.6%, maturing 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	500	500
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2014
Stated interest rate	8.60%
Maytag medium-term note - 5.0%, maturing 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Medium-term Notes	195	193
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Stated interest rate	5.00%
Senior note—6.5%, maturing 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	249	249
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Stated interest rate	6.50%
Debentures—7.75%, maturing 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	244	244
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Stated interest rate	7.75%
Senior note—4.85%, maturing 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	300
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Stated interest rate	4.85%
Other (various maturing through 2019) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other Notes Payable	51	70
Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Short-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	$ 361	$ 312