Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	$ 4,332	$ 4,383	$ 12,799	$ 12,562
Total Operating profit	1,027	1,035	2,947	2,918
Pretax costs related to sale of land	7	7	20	7	13
Costs before tax associated with various Business Realignment and other cost-saving initiatives	3	168	21	168
Pretax gain from the sale of laundry detergent business in Colombia		207	0	207
Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	3,804	3,846	11,198	10,954
Total Operating profit	1,019	975	2,911	2,804
Pet Nutrition [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	528	537	1,601	1,608
Total Operating profit	147	127	440	408
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Operating profit	(139)	(67)	(404)	(294)
North America [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	797	776	2,310	2,238
Total Operating profit	219	213	598	599
Latin America [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	1,245	1,243	3,684	3,571
Total Operating profit	371	364	1,082	1,050
Europe/South Pacific [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	865	972	2,569	2,661
Total Operating profit	198	196	560	551
Greater Asia/Africa [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	897	855	2,635	2,484
Total Operating profit	$ 231	$ 202	$ 671	$ 604