Special (Gains) and Charges (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Champion	Jun. 30, 2013 Champion	Dec. 31, 2012 Champion	Jun. 30, 2013 Nalco	Jun. 30, 2012 Nalco	Jun. 30, 2013 Nalco	Jun. 30, 2012 Nalco	Jun. 30, 2013 2011 Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Restructuring Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Merger Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Merger Restructuring Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Nalco Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Nalco Restructuring Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Combined Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Combined Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Combined Plan Low end of range	Jun. 30, 2013 Combined Plan High end of range	Jun. 30, 2013 Energy Restructuring Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Energy Restructuring Plan item	Jun. 30, 2013 Energy Restructuring Plan Low end of range	Jun. 30, 2013 Energy Restructuring Plan High end of range	Jun. 30, 2013 Employee termination costs Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee termination costs Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee termination costs Combined Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Employee termination costs Energy Restructuring Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Asset disposals Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset disposals Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Asset disposals Combined Plan	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Combined Plan
Restructuring reserve
Recorded expense and accrual																		$ 55.2	$ 139.4	$ 74.7				$ 12.2			$ 43.0	$ 126.1	$ 67.1	$ 12.2	$ 1.5	$ 3.2	$ 0.5	$ 10.7	$ 10.1	$ 7.1
Cash payments															(0.7)			(62.4)	(65.3)	(25.1)				(10.4)			(53.1)	(62.0)	(22.5)	(10.4)				(9.3)	(3.3)	(2.6)
Non-cash charges																		(2.0)	(7.1)	(0.5)											(1.5)	(3.2)	(0.5)	(0.5)	(3.9)
Effect of foreign currency translation																			(0.7)	(2.2)								(0.7)	(2.2)
Restructuring liability		108.2	116.6												2.4	3.4	104.0	104.0	113.2	46.9			1.8	1.8			95.7	105.8	42.4	1.8				8.3	7.4	4.5
Other restructuring information
Number of positions expected to be eliminated																								500
Restructuring charge expected to be incurred, pretax											150		180								80	100		80
Restructuring charge expected to be incurred, after tax											125		120								55	70		55
Expected restructuring charges for 2013																					25	45			40	50
Expected restructuring charges for 2013, after tax																					20	30			25	30
Restructuring charge incurred, pretax												134.0		80.0			34.4	55.2					12.2	12.2
Restructuring charge incurred, after tax												100		59
Restructuring charges, expected cash expenditures																					70	80		60
Restructuring charges, after tax																	26.1	40.4					7.6	7.6
Non-restructuring special (gains) and charges
Business combination and integration related costs, pre tax				37.9	47.9		4.4	13.0	8.2	115.5
Business combination and integration related costs, net of tax				27.6	34.7		3.0	8.8	5.7	86.5
Aggregate principal amount				500	500	500
Foreign currency translation charges associated with remeasurement, before tax	22.9
Foreign currency translation charges associated with remeasurement, after tax	$ 15.0