Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 25, 2012	Aug. 27, 2011
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Rollforward]
Beginning balance	$ 288,249	$ 271,857
Goodwill recorded during the period	29	16,014
Other	(141)	378
Ending balance	288,137	288,249
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Segment [Line Items]
Goodwill	288,137	288,249
Intangible assets, net [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount	172,752	172,421
Accumulated Amortization	122,221	111,516
Net Carrying Amount	50,531	60,905
Total intangible assets and goodwill acquired	456	26,367
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
2013	9,744
2014	7,592
2015	6,976
2016	6,427
2017	5,836
Thereafter	13,956
Total	50,531
Customer Contracts [Member]
Intangible assets, net [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount	144,842	144,497
Accumulated Amortization	96,262	86,607
Net Carrying Amount	48,580	57,890
Weighted Average Life in Years	11.6	14.4
Total intangible assets and goodwill acquired	402	9,588
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible assets, net [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount	27,910	27,924
Accumulated Amortization	25,959	24,909
Net Carrying Amount	1,951	3,015
Weighted Average Life in Years	13.8	5.1
Total intangible assets and goodwill acquired	25	765
US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Rollforward]
Ending balance	283,400
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Segment [Line Items]
Goodwill	283,400
Specialty Garments [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Rollforward]
Ending balance	4,100
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Segment [Line Items]
Goodwill	4,100
First Aid [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Rollforward]
Ending balance	600
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Segment [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 600