CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 3,336.6	$ 2,872.1
Cost of sales (including special charges of $6.0 in 2014 and $2.0 in 2013)	1,819.2	1,539.7
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,136.9	1,021.0
Special (gains) and charges	29.6	49.7
Operating income	350.9	261.7
Interest expense, net (including special charges of $2.2 in 2013)	65.1	61.5
Income before income taxes	285.8	200.2
Provision for income taxes	91.3	39.2
Net income including noncontrolling interest	194.5	161.0
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special charges of $0.5 in 2013)	3.5	1.4
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 191.0	$ 159.6
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.54
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.53
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.2750	$ 0.2300
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	300.6	295.4
Diluted (in shares)	306.5	300.9