CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net sales	$ 3,023.3	$ 1,736.1	$ 8,792.9	$ 4,953.2
Cost of sales (including special charges of $3.2 and $82.3 for the three months and nine months ended 2012 and $4.5 and $5.3 for the three months and nine months ended 2011)	1,616.4	877.9	4,839.3	2,509.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses	977.7	595.3	2,949.1	1,786.5
Special (gains) and charges	28.0	23.3	111.0	68.0
Operating income	401.2	239.6	893.5	589.6
Interest expense, net (including special charges of $18.2 in 2012)	64.2	13.2	214.2	39.8
Income before income taxes	337.0	226.4	679.3	549.8
Provision for income taxes	97.7	71.9	212.5	175.3
Net income including noncontrolling interest	239.3	154.5	466.8	374.5
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special charges of $4.5 in 2012)	1.3	0.2	(5.4)	0.7
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 238.0	$ 154.3	$ 472.2	$ 373.8
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.81	$ 0.67	$ 1.62	$ 1.61
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.65	$ 1.58	$ 1.58
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.2000	$ 0.1750	$ 0.6000	$ 0.5250
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	292.7	231.9	292.0	231.8
Diluted (in shares)	298.6	236.1	298.3	236.2