Debt and Interest (Details 2) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																																		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Champion USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Series A private placement senior euro notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Series A private placement senior euro notes EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A private placement senior euro notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Series B private placement senior euro notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Series B private placement senior euro notes EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B private placement senior euro notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Seven year 2008 senior notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Seven year 2008 senior notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Series A private placement senior notes due 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A private placement senior notes due 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Series B private placement senior notes due 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B private placement senior notes due 2023 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Three year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Three year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Five year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Five year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Ten year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Ten year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Thirty year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Thirty year 2011 senior notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Three year 2012 senior notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Three year 2012 senior notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Five year 2012 senior notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Five year 2012 senior notes USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Capital lease obligations USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Capital lease obligations USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Other USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2012 Term loan USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 Term loan Champion USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Nalco senior notes USD ($)
Debt instrument
CARRYING VALUE	$ 5,905.5		$ 5,903.7		$ 163.2		$ 162.3	$ 228.5		$ 227.3	$ 249.5	$ 249.4	$ 250.0	$ 250.0	$ 250.0	$ 250.0	$ 499.8	$ 499.8	$ 1,248.2	$ 1,248.1	$ 1,249.3	$ 1,249.3	$ 742.6	$ 742.6	$ 499.8	$ 499.8	$ 499.6	$ 499.6	$ 13.7	$ 13.8	$ 11.3	$ 11.7
Long-term debt, current maturities	(168.4)		(167.6)
Long-term debt	5,737.1		5,736.1
Aggregate principal amount				500		125			175		250		250		250		500		1,250		1,250		750		500		500	500					900	900
Interest
Interest expense	65.0	88.7
Interest income	(3.5)	(2.6)
Interest expense, net	61.5	86.1
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																																			$ 18.2