Restructuring And Related Charges Summary (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Accrual balance	$ 4,347	$ 11,816
Provisions	1,926
Cash expenditures	(9,118)
Non-cash items	(277)
Expensed as incurred (A)	16,764
Restructuring and related charges	19,591	28,644	24,118
Total Expected Restructuring Costs	88,700
Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	9,835	7,841	7,150
Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	9,756	20,803	16,968
Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	18,690	25,484	18,443
Restructuring and related charges since inception	83,018
Total future restructuring and related charges expected	5,597
Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	901	3,160	5,675
Global Batteries and Appliances [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	5,094	756	3,275
Global Batteries and Appliances [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	2,487	5,338	251
Global Batteries and Appliances [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	7,642
Restructuring and related charges since inception	20,809
Total future restructuring and related charges expected	1,501
Global Pet Supplies [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	4,741	7,085	3,837
Global Pet Supplies [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	5,395	9,567	2,917
Global Pet Supplies [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	10,136
Restructuring and related charges since inception	36,998
Total future restructuring and related charges expected	2,575
Home and Garden Business [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	0	0	38
Home and Garden Business [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	912	2,704	8,419
Home and Garden Business [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	912
Restructuring and related charges since inception	17,620
Total future restructuring and related charges expected	1,521
Corporate [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	962	3,194	5,381
Corporate [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	0
Restructuring and related charges since inception	7,591
Total future restructuring and related charges expected	0
Termination Benefits [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Accrual balance	3,252	8,795
Provisions	2,095
Cash expenditures	(7,765)
Non-cash items	127
Expensed as incurred (A)	3,926
Termination Benefits [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	2,941	1,679	2,630
Termination Benefits [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	3,079	10,155	4,268
Termination Benefits [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	0	0	201
Termination Benefits [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	0	956	5,269
Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Accrual balance	1,095	3,021
Provisions	(169)
Cash expenditures	(1,353)
Non-cash items	(404)
Expensed as incurred (A)	12,838
Other Restructuring [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	6,894	5,889	2,273
Other Restructuring [Member] | Global Cost Reduction Initiative [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	5,776	7,761	9,272
Other Restructuring [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	0	273	2,046
Other Restructuring [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related charges	$ 901	$ 1,931	$ (1,841)