SCHEDULE I THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY (PARENT) CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 4) (Parent company)	Dec. 31, 2012
Parent company
Basis of Presentation
Percentage by which the restricted net assets of Parent's consolidated subsidiaries exceeds Parent's consolidated net assets	25.00%

Represents the threshold (calculated as restricted net assets of Parent's consolidated subsidiaries as a percentage of Parent's consolidated net assets) for which if exceeded the Parent condensed financial statements must be disclosed.

No definition available.

Name:	svm_ThresholdForRestrictedNetAssetsOfSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	svm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant