Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013 Segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Segment	Sep. 30, 2012
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Impairment of goodwill				$ 0
Number of reporting units for which qualitative test used		8
Number of reporting units for which estimated fair values exceeds carrying values		7
Number of operating segments				10
Number of reportable segments				4
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net				5,920,500,000
Current year business acquisitions				1,054,400,000
Business divestitures				(2,100,000)
Effect of foreign currency translation				(160,000,000)
Ending goodwill, net	6,812,800,000			6,812,800,000
Total amortization expense related to other intangible assets	79,000,000		59,300,000	214,100,000	178,000,000
Future estimated expense related to amortizable other identifiable intangible assets
2013 (Remainder: three-month period)	78,000,000			78,000,000
2014	304,000,000			304,000,000
2015	300,000,000			300,000,000
2016	295,000,000			295,000,000
2017	292,000,000			292,000,000
2018	287,000,000			287,000,000
Nalco Holding Company ("Nalco")
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Ending goodwill, net	4,500,000,000			4,500,000,000
Nalco Holding Company ("Nalco") | Trademarks
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Carrying value of asset subject to impairment testing	1,200,000,000			1,200,000,000
Impairment of indefinite life intangible asset				0
Champion
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Ending goodwill, net	1,000,000,000			1,000,000,000
Global Industrial
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net				2,751,600,000
Current year business acquisitions				33,300,000
Business divestitures				(2,100,000)
Effect of foreign currency translation				(67,000,000)
Ending goodwill, net	2,715,800,000			2,715,800,000
Global Institutional
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net				720,600,000
Effect of foreign currency translation				(17,300,000)
Ending goodwill, net	703,300,000			703,300,000
Global Energy
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net				2,325,300,000
Current year business acquisitions				1,021,100,000
Effect of foreign currency translation				(72,700,000)
Ending goodwill, net	3,273,700,000			3,273,700,000
Other
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Beginning goodwill, net				123,000,000
Effect of foreign currency translation				(3,000,000)
Ending goodwill, net	$ 120,000,000			$ 120,000,000