2.2.0.25truefalse4050 - Disclosure - BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Textile Care {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Dober laundry division 9/1/2010 - 9/30/2010 USD ($) $D2010M09_DoberLaundryDivisionMember_TextileCareMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462duration2010-09-01T00:00:002010-09-30T00:00:00falsefalseTextile Careus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_TextileCareMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseDober laundry divisionus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_DoberLaundryDivisionMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Healthcare{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Stackhouse 2/1/2009 - 2/28/2009 USD ($) $D2009M02_StackhouseMember_HealthcareMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462duration2009-02-01T00:00:002009-02-28T00:00:00falsefalseHealthcareus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_HealthcareMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseStackhouseus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_StackhouseMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Food and Beverage{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Ecovation, Inc. 2/1/2008 - 2/29/2008 USD ($) $D2008M02_EcovationIncMember_FoodAndBeverageMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462duration2008-02-01T00:00:002008-02-29T00:00:00falsefalseFood and Beverageus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_FoodAndBeverageMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseEcovation, Inc.us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_EcovationIncMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Food and Beverage{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Ecovation, Inc. 12/31/2010 USD ($) $I2010_EcovationIncMember_FoodAndBeverageMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseFood and Beverageus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_FoodAndBeverageMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseEcovation, Inc.us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_EcovationIncMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : EMEA{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : ISS 10/1/2009 - 10/31/2009 USD ($) $D2009M10_ISSMember_EMEAMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462duration2009-10-01T00:00:002009-10-31T00:00:00falsefalseEMEAus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_EMEAMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseISSus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_ISSMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : EMEA{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Novartis-Ireland dairy hygiene business 1/1/2008 - 1/31/2008 USD ($) $D2008M01_NovartisIrelandDairyHygieneBusinessMember_EMEAMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseEMEAus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_EMEAMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseNovartis-Ireland dairy hygiene businessus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_NovartisIrelandDairyHygieneBusinessMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Asia Pacific{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Cleantec 12/1/2010 - 12/30/2010 USD ($) $D2010Q4_M12_CleantecMember_AsiaPacificMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462duration2010-12-01T00:00:002010-12-30T00:00:00falsefalseAsia Pacificus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_AsiaPacificMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCleantecus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_CleantecMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : O.R. Solutions, Inc.11/1/2010 - 11/30/2010 USD ($) $D2010Q4_M11_ORSolutionsIncMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000031462duration2010-11-01T00:00:002010-11-30T00:00:00falsefalseO.R. Solutions, Inc.us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiecl_ORSolutionsIncMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalseBusiness Acquisitions3false0ecl_BusinessAcquisitionSalesRevenueForecasteclfalsecreditdurationApproximate amount of total annual revenue from sale of goods and services of acquired entity.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse3700000037falsetruefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse40000004falsetruefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse5000000050falsetruefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse60000006falsetruefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse30000003falsetruefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse5500000055falsetruefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse5500000055falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryApproximate amount of total annual revenue from sale of goods and services of acquired entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEstimated annual sales pre-acquisition4false0ecl_BusinessAcquisitionAggregatePurchasePriceAllocationeclfalsedebitdurationThe total cost of the entities acquired during the period, including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse260000000260falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total cost of the entities acquired during the period, including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAggregate purchase price5false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPreacquisitionContingencyAmountus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse2100000021falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount assigned in the purchase price allocation to the preacquisition contingency.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 40, 41 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 2 -Section A -Subsection 7 falsefalseContingent liability related to acquisition6false0us-gaap_EscrowDepositus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse2100000021falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element excludes replacement reserves which are an escrow separately provided for within the US GAAP taxonomy.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAmount deposited in escrow account7false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPreacquisitionContingencyAmountOfSettlementus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount paid or received to resolve the preacquisition contingency.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 2 -Section A -Subsection 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 40, 41, 51 falsefalseAmount paid to seller for settlement of contingent liability8false0ecl_AmountReturnedFromEscrowAccountAfterSettlementOfContingentLiabilityeclfalsedebitinstantRepresents the amount returned from escrow account after settlement of contingent liability.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse1700000017falsetruefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount returned from escrow account after settlement of contingent liability.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAmount returned from escrow account after settlement of contingent liability87BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue