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RETIREMENT PLANS (Details 6) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Multiemployer Plan      
Contributions of Ecolab $ 0us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions $ 0.2us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions $ 0.5us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
Estimated liability arising from withdrawal of plan 4.5us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligation   4.7us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligation
Estimate of benefits expected to be paid for company's pension and postretirement health care benefit plans:      
2015 159us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths    
2016 170us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo    
2017 177us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree    
2018 185us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour    
2019 203us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive    
2020-2024 1,176us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter    
MEDICAL SUBSIDY RECEIPTS      
2015 1us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsNextTwelveMonths    
U.S. Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits      
Defined benefit plan fair value of plan assets level three activity      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,884.9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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1,863.7us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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U.S. Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits | Level 3      
Defined benefit plan fair value of plan assets level three activity      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 225.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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203.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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U.S. Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits | Hedge Funds      
Defined benefit plan fair value of plan assets level three activity      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 152.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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148.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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U.S. Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits | Hedge Funds | Level 3      
Defined benefit plan fair value of plan assets level three activity      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 148.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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134.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Unrealized gains 3.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsStillHeld
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13.9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsStillHeld
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Fair value of plan assets, end of year 152.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
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148.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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U.S. Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits | Private Equity      
Defined benefit plan fair value of plan assets level three activity      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 73.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
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54.9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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U.S. Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits | Private Equity | Level 3      
Defined benefit plan fair value of plan assets level three activity      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 54.9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
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48.2us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Unrealized gains 2.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsStillHeld
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6.2us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsStillHeld
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Realized gains 10.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsSoldDuringPeriod
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3.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsSoldDuringPeriod
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Purchases, sales and settlements, net 6.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPurchasesSalesAndSettlements
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(3.1)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPurchasesSalesAndSettlements
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Fair value of plan assets, end of year 73.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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54.9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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U.S. Pension      
Defined benefit plan fair value of plan assets level three activity      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 1,848.9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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1,633.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,871.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
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1,848.9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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MEDICAL SUBSIDY RECEIPTS      
Employer voluntary contribution to defined benefit plan 0ecl_DefinedBenefitPlanVoluntaryEmployerContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
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0ecl_DefinedBenefitPlanVoluntaryEmployerContributions
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= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
U.S. Pension | Nalco      
MEDICAL SUBSIDY RECEIPTS      
Required contributions to defined benefit plan in current fiscal year     38ecl_DefinedBenefitPlanRequiredEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear
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/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
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Contributions to plan     $ 180us-gaap_PensionContributions
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