Nature of Operations (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 businesssegments	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of business segments (in number of segments)	2
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Percentage of worldwide sales (in hundredths)	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Oral Care [Member]
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Percentage of worldwide sales (in hundredths)	43.00%	43.00%	41.00%
Home Care [Member]
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Percentage of worldwide sales (in hundredths)	22.00%	22.00%	23.00%
Personal Care [Member]
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Percentage of worldwide sales (in hundredths)	22.00%	22.00%	22.00%
Pet Nutrition [Member]
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Percentage of worldwide sales (in hundredths)	13.00%	13.00%	14.00%