Segment Results (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 832,576	$ 824,803	$ 746,285	$ 848,771	$ 827,329	$ 804,635	$ 693,885	$ 861,067	$ 3,252,435	$ 3,186,916	$ 2,567,011
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									133,780	135,149	117,418
Acquisition and integration related charges									31,066	36,603	38,452
Restructuring and related charges									19,591	28,644	24,118
Intangible asset impairment									0	32,450	0
Interest expense									191,911	208,329	277,015
Other expense, net									(878)	(2,491)	(12,300)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before reorganization items and income taxes									108,957	17,124	(120,537)
Operating income (loss)									301,746	227,944	168,778
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate, Translation					5.3					5.3
Total assets	3,751,649				3,626,706				3,751,649	3,626,706
Long-Lived Assets	2,690,222				2,578,418				2,690,222	2,578,418
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									46,809	36,160	40,316
Global Batteries and Appliances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,249,939	2,254,153	1,658,123
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									63,618	68,084	57,557
Operating Income Before Acquisition and Integration Costs, Restructuring and Related Charges									244,442	238,864	171,298
Intangible asset impairment										(23,200)
Total assets	2,243,472				2,275,076				2,243,472	2,275,076
Long-Lived Assets	1,434,392				1,468,617				1,434,392	1,468,617
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									36,271	25,471	28,496
Global Pet Supplies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									615,508	578,905	566,335
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									27,702	24,274	28,538
Operating Income Before Acquisition and Integration Costs, Restructuring and Related Charges									85,866	75,564	57,675
Intangible asset impairment										(8,600)
Total assets	956,043				828,202				956,043	828,202
Long-Lived Assets	768,140				647,953				768,140	647,953
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									7,447	7,059	7,920
Home and Garden Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									386,988	353,858	342,553
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									13,296	12,375	14,418
Operating Income Before Acquisition and Integration Costs, Restructuring and Related Charges									73,609	65,180	51,192
Intangible asset impairment										(650)
Total assets	508,083				476,381				508,083	476,381
Long-Lived Assets	445,774				417,078				445,774	417,078
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									3,091	3,630	3,890
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									104,616	104,733	100,513
Operating Income Before Acquisition and Integration Costs, Restructuring and Related Charges									403,917	379,608	280,165
Total assets	3,707,598				3,579,659				3,707,598	3,579,659
Long-Lived Assets	2,648,306				2,533,648				2,648,306	2,533,648
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									46,809	36,160	40,306
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									29,164	30,416	16,905
Operating Income Before Acquisition and Integration Costs, Restructuring and Related Charges									51,514	53,967	48,817
Total assets	44,051				47,047				44,051	47,047
Long-Lived Assets	41,916				44,770				41,916	44,770
Purchases of property, plant and equipment									0	0	10
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,772,138	1,780,127	1,444,779
Long-Lived Assets	1,988,632				1,843,869				1,988,632	1,843,869
Other Foreign Countries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,480,297	1,406,789	1,122,232
Long-Lived Assets	701,590				734,549				701,590	734,549
Official exchange rate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate, Translation					4.3					4.3	4.3
SITME exchange rate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate, Translation											5.3
Venezuela Hyperinflation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other expense, net										1,293	(10,102)
Operating income (loss)											$ 1,486