Note 13 - Segment Reporting (Details) - Segment Reporting (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Nov. 29, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 370,361us-gaap_Revenues	$ 346,704us-gaap_Revenues
Income (loss) from operations	60,589us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	55,640us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest (income) expense, net	(616)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet	(557)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet
Income (loss) before taxes	60,834	56,356
U.S. And Canadian Rental And Cleaning [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	330,901	308,442
Income (loss) from operations	63,299	58,359
Interest (income) expense, net	(770)	(730)
Income (loss) before taxes	64,084	59,087
MFG [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	51,828	44,233
Income (loss) from operations	18,231	15,574
Income (loss) before taxes	18,272	15,493
Net Interco MFG Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(51,828)	(44,233)
Income (loss) from operations	(1,689)	(1,264)
Income (loss) before taxes	(1,689)	(1,264)
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,946	3,564
Income (loss) from operations	(22,968)	(20,297)
Interest (income) expense, net	154	173
Income (loss) before taxes	(23,247)	(20,469)
Subtotal Core Laundry Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	335,847	312,006
Income (loss) from operations	56,873	52,372
Interest (income) expense, net	(616)	(557)
Income (loss) before taxes	57,420	52,847
Specialty Garments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	22,476	24,443
Income (loss) from operations	2,268	2,759
Income (loss) before taxes	1,966	3,000
First Aid [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	12,038	10,255
Income (loss) from operations	1,448	509
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 1,448	$ 509

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 10

-Article 9

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- Definition

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+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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