CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 3,337.8	$ 2,958.7	$ 6,209.9	$ 5,769.6
Cost of sales (including special charges of $15.2 and $17.2 for three months and six months ended 2013 and $3.1 and $79.1 for three months and six months ended 2012)	1,828.6	1,608.9	3,393.5	3,222.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,083.3	981.7	2,079.1	1,971.4
Special (gains) and charges	73.6	41.6	123.3	83.0
Operating income	352.3	326.5	614.0	492.3
Interest expense, net (including special charges of $0.3 and $2.5 for three months and six months ended 2013 and $18.2 for six months ended 2012)	66.2	63.9	127.7	150.0
Income before income taxes	286.1	262.6	486.3	342.3
Provision for income taxes	70.3	79.2	109.5	114.8
Net income including noncontrolling interest	215.8	183.4	376.8	227.5
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special charges of $0.5 for the six months ended 2013 and $4.5 for the six months ended 2012)	2.7	(1.1)	4.1	(6.7)
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 213.1	$ 184.5	$ 372.7	$ 234.2
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.71	$ 0.63	$ 1.25	$ 0.80
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.62	$ 1.23	$ 0.79
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.2300	$ 0.2000	$ 0.4600	$ 0.4000
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	301.5	291.9	298.5	291.7
Diluted (in shares)	307.4	298.2	304.2	298.1