Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 Segment	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Segment	Jun. 30, 2012
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Impairment of goodwill			$ 0
Number of reporting units for which qualitative test used	8
Number of reporting units for which estimated fair values exceeds carrying values	7
Number of operating segments			10
Number of reportable segments			4
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net			5,920,500,000
Current year business acquisitions			1,034,200,000
Effect of foreign currency translation			(92,400,000)
Ending goodwill, net	6,862,300,000		6,862,300,000
Total amortization expense related to other intangible assets	74,600,000	59,500,000	135,100,000	118,700,000
Future estimated expense related to amortizable other identifiable intangible assets
2013 (Remainder: six-month period)	161,000,000		161,000,000
2014	303,000,000		303,000,000
2015	302,000,000		302,000,000
2016	296,000,000		296,000,000
2017	293,000,000		293,000,000
2018	287,000,000		287,000,000
Nalco Holding Company ("Nalco")
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Ending goodwill, net	4,500,000,000		4,500,000,000
Nalco Holding Company ("Nalco") | Trademarks
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Carrying value of asset subject to impairment testing	1,200,000,000		1,200,000,000
Impairment of indefinite life intangible asset			0
Champion
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Ending goodwill, net	1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Global Industrial
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net			2,751,600,000
Current year business acquisitions			33,300,000
Effect of foreign currency translation			(40,000,000)
Ending goodwill, net	2,744,900,000		2,744,900,000
Global Institutional
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net			720,600,000
Effect of foreign currency translation			(10,400,000)
Ending goodwill, net	710,200,000		710,200,000
Global Energy
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net			2,325,300,000
Current year business acquisitions			1,000,900,000
Effect of foreign currency translation			(40,300,000)
Ending goodwill, net	3,286,000,000		3,286,000,000
Other
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net			123,000,000
Effect of foreign currency translation			(1,700,000)
Ending goodwill, net	$ 121,300,000		$ 121,300,000