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Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for doubtful accounts and estimated returns      
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]      
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance $ 67us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
$ 61us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
$ 49us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense 0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
15us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
18us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Other Accounts 0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions 13us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
9us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
6us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance 54us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
67us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
61us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= cl_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndEstimatedReturnsMember
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets      
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]      
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance 6us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
1us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
1us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense 0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
6us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Other Accounts 0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions 6us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
1us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance $ 0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
$ 6us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
$ 1us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember