Note 15 - Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Aug. 27, 2016		May 28, 2016	Feb. 27, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015	Aug. 29, 2015	May 30, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 29, 2014	Aug. 27, 2016		Aug. 29, 2015	Aug. 30, 2014
US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning [Member]
Revenues										$ 1,308,152,000		$ 1,305,240,000	$ 1,244,408,000
Income (loss) from operations										201,148,000		219,430,000	209,497,000
Interest (income) expense, net										(3,252,000)		(3,189,000)	(3,077,000)
Income (loss) before taxes										204,433,000		222,657,000	212,551,000
Depreciation and amortization										57,062,000		53,811,000	49,116,000
Capital expenditures										91,384,000		93,842,000	86,430,000
Total assets	$ 1,567,943,000					$ 1,401,346,000				1,567,943,000		1,401,346,000	1,286,984,000
MFG [Member]
Revenues										189,154,000		192,188,000	183,340,000
Income (loss) from operations										67,385,000		66,190,000	63,675,000
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes										67,407,000		66,355,000	63,540,000
Depreciation and amortization										2,073,000		1,536,000	1,306,000
Capital expenditures										1,598,000		2,618,000	2,264,000
Total assets	32,556,000					34,075,000				32,556,000		34,075,000	38,066,000
Net Interco MFG Elimination [Member]
Revenues										(188,904,000)		(192,188,000)	(183,340,000)
Income (loss) from operations										(711,000)		(733,000)	(3,777,000)
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes										(711,000)		(733,000)	(3,777,000)
Depreciation and amortization
Capital expenditures
Total assets
Corporate Segment [Member]
Revenues										20,973,000		17,088,000	15,077,000
Income (loss) from operations										(81,748,000)		(97,301,000)	(87,145,000)
Interest (income) expense, net										709,000		752,000	718,000
Income (loss) before taxes										(82,714,000)		(98,418,000)	(87,897,000)
Depreciation and amortization										16,918,000		16,393,000	15,751,000
Capital expenditures
Total assets
Subtotal Core Laundry Operations [Member]
Revenues										1,329,375,000		1,322,328,000	1,259,485,000
Income (loss) from operations										186,074,000		187,586,000	182,250,000
Interest (income) expense, net										(2,543,000)		(2,437,000)	(2,359,000)
Income (loss) before taxes										188,415,000		189,861,000	184,417,000
Depreciation and amortization										76,053,000		71,740,000	66,173,000
Capital expenditures										92,982,000		96,460,000	88,694,000
Total assets	1,600,499,000					1,435,421,000				1,600,499,000		1,435,421,000	1,325,050,000
Specialty Garments [Member]
Revenues										91,257,000		87,513,000	91,484,000
Income (loss) from operations										10,204,000		7,355,000	7,178,000
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes										10,074,000		5,964,000	7,087,000
Depreciation and amortization										4,332,000		4,331,000	4,646,000
Capital expenditures										4,682,000		3,820,000	1,847,000
Total assets	77,728,000					74,449,000				77,728,000		74,449,000	77,037,000
First Aid [Member]
Revenues										47,414,000		46,764,000	43,928,000
Income (loss) from operations										4,882,000		5,443,000	3,847,000
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes										4,882,000		5,443,000	3,847,000
Depreciation and amortization										1,227,000		1,042,000	933,000
Capital expenditures										571,000		883,000	1,267,000
Total assets	23,780,000					23,367,000				23,780,000		23,367,000	22,074,000
Revenues	363,766,000	[1]	$ 367,799,000	$ 363,097,000	$ 373,384,000	359,208,000	$ 365,574,000	$ 361,462,000	$ 370,361,000	1,468,046,000		1,456,605,000	1,394,897,000
Income (loss) from operations										201,160,000		200,384,000	193,275,000
Interest (income) expense, net										(2,543,000)		(2,437,000)	(2,359,000)
Income (loss) before taxes										203,371,000		201,268,000	195,351,000
Depreciation and amortization										81,612,000		77,113,000	71,752,000
Capital expenditures										98,235,000		101,163,000	91,808,000
Total assets	$ 1,702,007,000	[2]				$ 1,533,237,000				$ 1,702,007,000	[2]	$ 1,533,237,000	$ 1,424,161,000

[1] In the fourth fiscal quarter of 2016, operating results benefited from a settlement of environmental litigation that resulted in the Company recording a $15.9 million pre-tax gain. This gain translated into a $0.48 benefit to the Company's diluted earnings per share.

[2] In the second fiscal quarter of 2016, the Company adopted updated accounting guidance on the presentation of deferred income taxes. This adoption required that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company elected to account for this change in presentation prospectively and prior periods were not retroactively adjusted.