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DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING TRANSACTIONS (Details)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Three year 2018 senior notes
Subsequent event
Dec. 31, 2014
Series A private placement senior notes due 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Five year 2011 senior notes
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Foreign currency forward contracts
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Foreign currency forward contracts
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Interest rate swap
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Interest rate swap
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
AOCI (equity)
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
AOCI (equity)
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
AOCI (equity)
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Sales
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cost of sales
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cost of sales
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cost of sales
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
AOCI (equity)
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
May 31, 2014
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Three year 2018 senior notes
Subsequent event
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Series A private placement senior notes due 2018
Subsequent event
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Five year 2011 senior notes
Subsequent event
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Net Investment Hedges
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Net Investment Hedges
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
Senior euro notes
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
Senior euro notes
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2012
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
EUR (€)
Jan. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts.
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts.
EUR (€)
DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING TRANSACTIONS                                                                                                          
Maximum period for hedged transactions 12 months                                                                                                        
Impact on AOCI and earnings from derivative contracts                                                                                                          
Unrealized gain (loss) recognized into AOCI (effective portion)                     $ 4.6us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
$ 4.7us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
$ (1.9)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
      $ 26.7us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
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$ 4.7us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
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$ (1.9)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
                              $ (22.1)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
                                   
Gain (loss) recognized in income (effective portion)                     3.5us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
(4.9)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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(2.0)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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7.6us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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(0.8)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
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2.1us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
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= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
      (0.1)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SalesMember
6.1us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
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(0.8)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
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2.0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
1.5us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
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0.2us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
                    (4.1)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
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(4.1)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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(4.1)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= ecl_InterestExpenseNetMember
                             
Aggregate principal amount         250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= ecl_SeriesAPrivatePlacementSeniorNotesDue2018Member
1,250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_FiveYear2011SeniorNotesMember
                                                                500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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1,250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
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= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
                     
Interest rate (as a percent)       1.55%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_ThreeYear2018SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
                                                                    1.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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1.55%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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3.69%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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3.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
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Gain (loss) on derivative recognized in income                                                   (0.4)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
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(8.0)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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(7.9)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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8.6us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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(1.4)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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(6.6)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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Gain (loss) on hedged item recognized in income                                                                                     2.1us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings
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= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
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Net Investment Hedge:                                                                                                          
Euro-denominated debt outstanding                                                                                               218us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNonderivativeInstruments
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_SeniorEuroNotesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
175us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNonderivativeInstruments
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= ecl_SeniorEuroNotesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
       
Notional amount of forward contract             2,800invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
2,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
725invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
400invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
                                                                        495invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
    75invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
100invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
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= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
360invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
495invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
Revaluation gains (losses), net of tax $ 34.7us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax $ (11.4)us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax $ 9.8us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax                                                                                 $ 34.7us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
$ (11.4)us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
$ 9.8us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax
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= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember