-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QZGsJmViLfncU4mXg/47+Gq9k8lmwpvXIJ0bgfKAdPD+EaJsr3fm4xztoOV9OQzd
 qqNrl8oHKsDRnbzCG9O+Lw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-005193.txt : 20040303
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-005193.hdr.sgml : 20040303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040303151120
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-005193
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ECOLAB INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031462
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SOAP, DETERGENT, CLEANING PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS [2840]
		IRS NUMBER:				410231510
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ECOLAB CTR
		STREET 2:		370 WABASHA ST NORTH
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6512932233

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 WABASHA ST NORTH
		CITY:			ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ECONOMICS LABORATORY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19861203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRITCHARD BETH M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228598

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09328
		FILM NUMBER:		04645887

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BORDERS GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		100 PHOENIX DRIVE
		CITY:			ANN ARBOR
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48108
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7344771100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BORDERS GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		100 PHOENIX DRIVE
		CITY:			ANN ARBOR
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031462</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECOLAB INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228598</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PRITCHARD BETH M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THREE BOTTOMLY CRESCENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW ALBANY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>None</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David F. Duvick, as Attorney-in-Fact for Beth M. Pritchard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>poa040225bmp.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, That the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Lawrence T. Bell,
Diana D. Lewis, Timothy P. Dordell and David F. Duvick,
signing singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful
attorney-in-fact to:

(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned,
in the undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or
director of Ecolab Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4 and 5
in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

(2)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of
the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to
complete and execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely
file such form with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar
authority; and

(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of
such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the
best interest of, or legally required by, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents
executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall
be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in
such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact
full power and authority to do and perform any and every act
and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be
done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein
granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present, with
full power of substitution or revocation, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact,
or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of
this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers
herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such
capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not
assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and
effect until the undersigned is no longer required
to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in
securities issued by the Company, unless earlier
revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
Power of Attorney to be executed as of this
25th day of February, 2004.


			/s/ Beth M. Pritchard

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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