Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements of The ServiceMaster Company and Subsidiaries (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	$ 422,745	$ 328,930
Net Cash (Used for) Provided from Operating Activities from Continuing Operations	109,059	100,109
Cash Flows from Investing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Property additions	(57,701)	(61,596)
Sale of equipment and other assets	1,138	1,298
Other business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(22,577)	(29,946)
Notes receivable, financial investments and securities, net	(22,053)	(7,927)
Notes receivable from affiliate	(11,973)
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities from Continuing Operations	(113,166)	(98,171)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Borrowings of debt	855	1,350,000
Payments of debt	(41,772)	(1,319,855)
Discount paid on issuance of debt	(12,200)
Debt issuance costs paid	(5,575)	(32,304)
Net Cash Used for Financing Activities from Continuing Operations	(58,692)	(2,159)
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations:
Cash used for operating activities	(1,440)	(611)
Cash used for investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of business		(3,549)
Net Cash Used for Discontinued Operations	(1,440)	(4,160)
Cash Decrease During the Period	(64,239)	(4,381)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	358,506	324,549
The ServiceMaster Company
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	316,528	232,382
Net Cash (Used for) Provided from Operating Activities from Continuing Operations	(68,974)	(83,912)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Notes receivable from affiliate	(11,973)
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities from Continuing Operations	(11,973)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Borrowings of debt	855	1,350,000
Payments of debt	(20,763)	(1,305,377)
Discount paid on issuance of debt	(12,200)
Debt issuance costs paid	(5,575)	(32,301)
Net intercompany advances	82,582	47,068
Net Cash Used for Financing Activities from Continuing Operations	44,899	59,390
Cash used for investing activities:
Cash Decrease During the Period	(36,048)	(24,522)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	280,480	207,860
Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	13,842	13,751
Net Cash (Used for) Provided from Operating Activities from Continuing Operations	181,694	248,465
Cash Flows from Investing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Property additions	(30,936)	(35,662)
Sale of equipment and other assets	1,081	1,293
Other business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(6,807)	(27,789)
Notes receivable, financial investments and securities, net	750
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities from Continuing Operations	(35,912)	(62,158)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Payments of debt	(19,742)	(12,431)
Shareholders' dividends	(18,808)	(32,928)
Net intercompany advances	(104,240)	(132,540)
Net Cash Used for Financing Activities from Continuing Operations	(142,790)	(177,899)
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations:
Cash used for operating activities	(1,313)	(512)
Cash used for investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of business		(3,549)
Net Cash Used for Discontinued Operations	(1,313)	(4,061)
Cash Decrease During the Period	1,679	4,347
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	15,521	18,098
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	92,375	82,797
Net Cash (Used for) Provided from Operating Activities from Continuing Operations	33,955	1,412
Cash Flows from Investing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Property additions	(26,765)	(25,934)
Sale of equipment and other assets	57	5
Other business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(15,770)	(2,157)
Notes receivable, financial investments and securities, net	(22,803)	(7,927)
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities from Continuing Operations	(65,281)	(36,013)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Payments of debt	(1,267)	(2,047)
Debt issuance costs paid		(3)
Shareholders' dividends	(18,808)	(32,928)
Net intercompany advances	21,658	85,472
Net Cash Used for Financing Activities from Continuing Operations	1,583	50,494
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations:
Cash used for operating activities	(127)	(99)
Cash used for investing activities:
Net Cash Used for Discontinued Operations	(127)	(99)
Cash Decrease During the Period	(29,870)	15,794
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	62,505	98,591
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Net Cash (Used for) Provided from Operating Activities from Continuing Operations	(37,616)	(65,856)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Shareholders' dividends	37,616	65,856
Net Cash Used for Financing Activities from Continuing Operations	$ 37,616	$ 65,856