UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):        March 25, 1999     
                                                 -------------------------------

                                   ECOLAB INC.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                   1-9328                    41-0231510    
  ----------------------------     -------------           -------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction     (Commission              (IRS Employer 
     of incorporation)              File Number)           Identification No.)


               Ecolab Center, 370 N. Wabasha, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102  
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               (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, include area code:          651-293-2233     
                                                 -------------------------------

                                (Not applicable)
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         (Former name or former address, if changed from last report.)




Item 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

The Company is filing this current report on Form 8-K in order to obtain the 
benefits provided by Section 11(b)(3)(C) of the Securities Act of 1933. This 
Form 8-K amends:

(a)      Each of the Company's Registration Statements on Form S-8 listed at 
the end of this Item by adding the following reference to 
PricewaterhouseCoopers Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung 
Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft under the caption "Item 3. Incorporation of 
Documents by Reference" or, if information concerning incorporation by 
reference of the financial statements and financial statement schedules of 
the Henkel-Ecolab Joint Venture is instead listed under the caption "Item 5. 
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel," under such latter caption:

         Commencing with the Henkel-Ecolab Joint Venture's fiscal year ended
         November 30, 1998, PricewaterhouseCoopers Gesellschaft mit beschrankter
         Haftung Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft has been engaged to audit the
         combined financial statements and financial statement schedule of the
         Henkel-Ecolab Joint Venture. To the extent that PricewaterhouseCoopers
         Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft
         examines and reports on the financial statements and financial
         statement schedules of the Henkel-Ecolab Joint Venture issued at future
         dates (including, but not limited to the financial statements and
         financial statement schedule for the fiscal year ended November 30,
         1998), and consents to the use of their reports thereon, such financial
         statements and financial statement schedules will also be incorporated
         by reference in this Registration Statement in reliance upon their
         reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and
         auditing.

(b)      Each of the Company's Registration Statements on Form S-8 listed at 
the end of this Item which is marked with an asterisk (*) by adding the 
following reference to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP under the caption "Item 3. 
Incorporation of Documents by Reference" or, if information concerning 
incorporation by reference of the financial statements and financial 
statement schedules of the Company is instead listed under the caption " Item 
5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel," under such latter caption:

         To the extent that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP examines and reports on
         the financial statements and financial statement schedules of the
         Company issued at future dates (including, but not limited to the
         financial statements and financial statement schedule for the fiscal
         year ended December 31, 1998), and consents to the use of their reports
         thereon, such financial statements and financial statement schedules
         will also be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
         in reliance upon their reports given upon their authority as experts in
         accounting and auditing.


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                       Registration Statements on Form S-8

                                                        
2-60010*         2-74944*         33-1664*         33-41828*        2-90702*
33-18202*        33-55986*        33-56101         33-26241*        33-34000*
33-56151         333-18627        33-39228*        33-56125         333-70835
33-60266*        33-65364*        33-59431         333-18617        333-21167
333-35519        333-40239        333-50969        333-62183



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                                   SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            ECOLAB INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Kenneth A. Iverson
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Kenneth A. Iverson
                                                Vice President and Secretary

Date:    March 25, 1999


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