ECOLAB INC. — Director's Dealing 2005

Aug 31, 2005

SEC Form 4 — Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership

Issuer: ECOLAB INC (ECL)
CIK: 0000031462
Period of Report: 2005-08-30

Reporting Person: LEVIN JERRY W (Director)

Non-Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Code	Shares	Price	A/D	Holdings After	Ownership
2005-08-30	Common Stock	M	6800	$22.6525	Acquired	82648.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	F	4821	$31.945	Disposed	77827.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	M	4396	$22.6525	Acquired	82223.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	F	3117	$31.945	Disposed	79106.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	M	5846	$24.035	Acquired	84952.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	F	4398	$31.945	Disposed	80554.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	M	7400	$24.8325	Acquired	87954.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	F	5752	$31.945	Disposed	82202.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	M	6048	$24.8325	Acquired	88250.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	F	4701	$31.945	Disposed	83549.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	M	5717	$27.07	Acquired	89266.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	F	4844	$31.945	Disposed	84422.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	M	5548	$29.29	Acquired	89970.01	Direct
2005-08-30	Common Stock	F	5086	$31.945	Disposed	84884.01	Direct

Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Exercise Price	Code	Shares	A/D	Expiration	Underlying	Ownership
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$22.6525	M	6800	Disposed	2012-05-10	Common Stock (6800)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$22.6525	M	4396	Disposed	2012-05-10	Common Stock (4396)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$24.035	M	5846	Disposed	2012-11-01	Common Stock (5846)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$24.8325	M	7400	Disposed	2013-05-09	Common Stock (7400)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$24.8325	M	6048	Disposed	2013-05-09	Common Stock (6048)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$27.07	M	5717	Disposed	2013-11-01	Common Stock (5717)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$29.29	M	5548	Disposed	2014-05-07	Common Stock (5548)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$31.945	A	4821	Acquired	2012-05-10	Common Stock (4821)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$31.945	A	3117	Acquired	2012-05-10	Common Stock (3117)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$31.945	A	4398	Acquired	2012-11-01	Common Stock (4398)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$31.945	A	5752	Acquired	2013-05-09	Common Stock (5752)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$31.945	A	4701	Acquired	2013-05-09	Common Stock (4701)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$31.945	A	4844	Acquired	2013-11-01	Common Stock (4844)	Direct
2005-08-30	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$31.945	A	5086	Acquired	2014-05-07	Common Stock (5086)	Direct

Footnotes

F1: Reflects the reporting person's payment of the exercise price of the stock options issued in accordance with Rule 16b-3 in each case by delivering shares of Ecolab common stock.

F2: The exercise price for the stock options has been halved and the number of shares subject to the options doubled to reflect a 2-for-1 stock split on June 6, 2003 subsequent to the original reporting of the options.