Special (Gains) and Charges (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Champion	Sep. 30, 2012 Champion	Sep. 30, 2013 Champion	Sep. 30, 2012 Champion	Dec. 31, 2012 Champion	Sep. 30, 2013 Nalco	Sep. 30, 2012 Nalco	Sep. 30, 2013 Nalco	Sep. 30, 2012 Nalco	Sep. 30, 2013 2011 Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Restructuring Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Merger Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Merger Restructuring Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Nalco Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Nalco Restructuring Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Combined Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Combined Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Energy Restructuring Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Energy Restructuring Plan item	Sep. 30, 2013 Employee termination costs Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee termination costs Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee termination costs Combined Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Employee termination costs Energy Restructuring Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Asset disposals Combined Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Asset disposals Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset disposals Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Asset disposals Combined Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Asset disposals Energy Restructuring Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Combined Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Combined Plan	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Energy Restructuring Plan
Restructuring reserve
Recorded net expense and accrual																				$ 60.5	$ 139.4	$ 74.7		$ 20.6	$ 52.0	$ 126.1	$ 67.1	$ 19.4		$ (2.9)	$ 3.2	$ 0.5	$ 0.8	$ 11.4	$ 10.1	$ 7.1	$ 0.4
Net cash payments																	(1.1)			(80.8)	(65.3)	(25.1)		(13.3)	(76.7)	(62.0)	(22.5)	(12.9)		5.9				(10.0)	(3.3)	(2.6)	(0.4)
Non-cash net charges																				(3.4)	(7.1)	(0.5)		(0.8)						(3.0)	(3.2)	(0.5)	(0.8)	(0.4)	(3.9)
Effect of foreign currency translation																				1.0	(0.7)	(2.2)		(0.1)	1.0	(0.7)	(2.2)	(0.1)
Restructuring liability		99.0	116.6														2.1	3.4	90.5	90.5	113.2	46.9	6.4	6.4	82.1	105.8	42.4	6.4						8.4	7.4	4.5
Gain on sale of plant																													5.1
Other restructuring information
Number of positions expected to be eliminated																								500
Restructuring charge expected to be incurred, pretax													150		180					100				80
Restructuring charge expected to be incurred, after tax													125		120					70				55
Expected restructuring charges for 2013																				70				30
Expected restructuring charges for 2013, after tax																				50				20
Restructuring charge incurred, pretax														134.0		80.0			5.3	60.5			8.4	20.6
Restructuring charge incurred, after tax														100		59
Restructuring charges, expected cash expenditures																				80				60
Restructuring charges, after tax																			2.1	42.5			6.7	14.3
Period over which the entity expects to incur the restructuring charge		12 months
Non-restructuring special (gains) and charges
Business combination and integration related costs, pre tax				15.1		63.0			5.3	17.9	13.5	133.4
Business combination and integration related costs, after tax				10.3		44.9			3.5	11.8	9.2	98.3
Business combination advisory and legal fees, pre tax					3.8	63.0	3.8
Business combination advisory and legal fees, after tax					3.3		3.3
Aggregate principal amount								500
Foreign currency translation charges associated with remeasurement, before tax	22.9
Foreign currency translation charges associated with remeasurement, after tax	$ 15.0