CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net sales	$ 2,810.9	$ 1,518.3
Cost of sales (including special charges of $76.0 in 2012 and $0.8 in 2011)	1,614.0	770.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses	989.7	581.6
Special (gains) and charges	41.4	14.6
Operating income	165.8	151.7
Interest expense, net (including special charges of $18.2 in 2012)	86.1	13.5
Income before income taxes	79.7	138.2
Provision for income taxes	35.6	44.4
Net income including noncontrolling interest	44.1	93.8
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special charges of $4.5 million in 2012)	(5.6)	0.2
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 49.7	$ 93.6
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.40
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.2000	$ 0.1750
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	291.5	232.0
Diluted (in shares)	297.9	235.9