FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * LEVIN JERRY W   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ECOLAB INC [ECL] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD, INC., 2381 EXECUTIVE CENTER DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/07/2005 (Street) BOCA RATON, FL 33431 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/07/2005   M   4,800 A $ 5.797 51,363.13 D   Common Stock 02/07/2005   M   24,000 A $ 7.969 75,363.13 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) (1)

$ 5.797

02/07/2005

M

4,800

05/12/1996

05/12/2005

Common Stock

4,800

$ 0

0

D

Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) (2)

$ 7.967

02/07/2005

M

24,000

05/10/1997

05/10/2006

Common Stock

24,000

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
LEVIN JERRY W AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD, INC. 2381 EXECUTIVE CENTER DRIVE BOCA RATON, FL 33431	X

Signatures

/s/David F. Duvick, Attorney-in-Fact for Jerry Levin		02/07/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	This option was previously reported as covering 1,200 shares at an exercise price of $23.1875 per share. It has been adjusted to reflect the 2 for 1 stock splits of Ecolab Inc. Common Stock on January 15, 1998 and June 6, 2003 ("Stock Splits").
(2)	This option was previously reported as covering 6,000 shares at an exercise price of $31.875 per share. It has been adjusted to reflect the 2 for 1 stock splits of Ecolab Inc. Common Stock on January 15, 1998 and June 6, 2003 ("Stock Splits"). The option vested in three annual installments beginning on May 10, 1997.

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