CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 2,872.1	$ 2,810.9
Cost of sales (including special charges of $2.0 in 2013 and $76.0 in 2012)	1,564.9	1,614.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	995.8	989.7
Special (gains) and charges	49.7	41.4
Operating income	261.7	165.8
Interest expense, net (including special charges of $2.2 in 2013 and $18.2 in 2012)	61.5	86.1
Income before income taxes	200.2	79.7
Provision for income taxes	39.2	35.6
Net income including noncontrolling interest	161.0	44.1
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special charges of $0.5 in 2013 and $4.5 in 2012)	1.4	(5.6)
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 159.6	$ 49.7
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.17
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.17
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.2300	$ 0.2000
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	295.4	291.5
Diluted (in shares)	300.9	297.9