Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 segment	Mar. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Number of operating segments	10
Impairment of goodwill	$ 0
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net	6,862,900,000
Current year business acquisitions	7,000,000
Prior year business acquisitions	16,800,000
Effect of foreign currency translation	(30,100,000)
Ending goodwill, net	6,856,600,000
Goodwill expected to be tax deductible	0
Total amortization expense related to other intangible assets	78,100,000	60,500,000
Future estimated amortization expense related to amortizable other identifiable intangible assets
2014 (Remainder: nine-month period)	226,000,000
2015	301,000,000
2016	296,000,000
2017	293,000,000
2018	287,000,000
2019	274,000,000
Nalco
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Ending goodwill, net	4,500,000,000
Nalco | Trademarks
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Carrying value of asset subject to impairment testing	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
Global Industrial
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net	2,729,500,000
Current year business acquisitions	7,000,000
Prior year business acquisitions	(100,000)
Reclassifications	(28,900,000)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(11,900,000)
Ending goodwill, net	2,695,600,000
Global Institutional
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net	706,600,000
Reclassifications	5,000,000
Effect of foreign currency translation	(3,100,000)
Ending goodwill, net	708,500,000
Global Energy
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net	3,306,200,000
Prior year business acquisitions	16,900,000
Reclassifications	23,900,000
Effect of foreign currency translation	(14,600,000)
Ending goodwill, net	3,332,400,000
Other
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Number of operating segments	2
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net	120,600,000
Effect of foreign currency translation	(500,000)
Ending goodwill, net	$ 120,100,000