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Derivatives and Hedging Transactions (Details)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2006
contract
Dec. 31, 2014
Other current assets
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Other current liabilities
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Five year 2012 senior notes
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Three year 2018 senior notes
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Three year 2018 senior notes
Mar. 31, 2015
Series A private placement senior notes due 2018
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Five year 2011 senior notes
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Foreign currency forward contracts
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Foreign currency forward contracts
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Interest rate swap
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Interest rate swap
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2014
Interest rate swap
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Interest rate swap
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
AOCI (equity)
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
AOCI (equity)
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cost of sales
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cost of sales
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Selling, general and administrative expenses
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
AOCI (equity)
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
May 31, 2014
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Three year 2018 senior notes
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Series A private placement senior notes due 2018
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2015
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Five year 2011 senior notes
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swap
Interest expense, net
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
Senior euro notes
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
Senior euro notes
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2014
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contract 1
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contract 2
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contract 3
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2015
Net Investment Hedges
Foreign currency forward contract 3
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
EUR (€)
Derivatives and Hedging Transactions                                                                                                        
Maximum period for hedged transactions 12 months                                                                                                      
Number of interest rate swap contracts entered into and subsequently closed     2ecl_NumberOfInterestRateSwapContractsEnteredAndClosedInSameFiscalYear                                                                                                  
Impact on AOCI and earnings from derivative contracts                                                                                                        
Unrealized gain (loss) recognized into AOCI (effective portion)                                 $ 10.9us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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$ 0.2us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
      $ 25.3us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
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$ 0.2us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
                    $ (14.4)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
                                   
Gain (loss) recognized in income (effective portion)                                 4.1us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
(0.6)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
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  5.3us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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0.4us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
    4.8us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
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= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
(0.2)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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0.5us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
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/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
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0.6us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
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/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
              (1.2)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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(1.0)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= ecl_InterestExpenseNetMember
                               
Aggregate principal amount           500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= ecl_FiveYear2012SeniorNotesMember
300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
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  250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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1,250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= ecl_FiveYear2011SeniorNotesMember
                                                    500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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1,250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
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Interest rate (as a percent)               1.55%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= ecl_ThreeYear2018SeniorNotesMember
                                                        1.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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1.55%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
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3.69%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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3.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
                       
Gain (loss) on derivative recognized in income                                                       (0.1)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
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0.7us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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4.8us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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3.1us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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(4.9)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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(2.4)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= ecl_InterestExpenseNetMember
              1.0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= ecl_InterestExpenseNetMember
                     
Gain (loss) on hedged item recognized in income                                                                                 (1.0)us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings
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= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
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Net Investment Hedge:                                                                                                        
Euro-denominated debt outstanding                                                                                           196us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNonderivativeInstruments
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_SeniorEuroNotesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
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175us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNonderivativeInstruments
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_SeniorEuroNotesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
         
Notional values                     2,700invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
2,800invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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1,425invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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400invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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725invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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400invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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    495invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
                                                935invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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495invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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    75invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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360invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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80invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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(360)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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360invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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Revaluation gains (losses), net of tax 57.0us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax (3.7)us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax                                                                               57.0us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax
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(3.7)us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
                 
Derivative Summary                                                                                                        
Cash collateral received 0us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash                                                                                                      
Cash collateral pledged 0us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash                                                                                                      
Reclassification adjustment       $ (18.1)us-gaap_PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustment
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$ 18.1us-gaap_PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustment
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