Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 26, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment shares	Aug. 25, 2018 USD ($) shares	Aug. 26, 2017 USD ($) shares	Aug. 29, 2009	Sep. 01, 2019 USD ($)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments | segment		5
Certificates of deposit		$ 4,900,000	$ 67,600,000
Percentage of revenues derived from route servicing fees		91.60%
Current assets related to deferred commissions		$ 12,400,000
Noncurrent assets related to deferred commissions		50,300,000
Amortization expense related to deferred commissions		$ 11,800,000
Estimated service lives of rental merchandise, minimum		6 months
Estimated service lives of rental merchandise, maximum		36 months
Impairment charge of capitalized costs as part of ongoing CRM systems project			55,800,000	$ 55,800,000
Impairment of goodwill and definite-lived intangible assets		$ 0	0	0
Weighted average useful life		11 years 3 months 18 days
Discount rate, lower range		1.50%
Discount range, upper range		2.00%
Discount period, lower range		10 years
Discount period, upper range		30 years
Inflation rate		3.00%
Advertising costs		$ 3,600,000	$ 2,800,000	$ 3,700,000
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share (in shares) | shares		8,325	4,972	16
Conversion of Class B Common Stock in to Common Stock
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Conversion ratio		1
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expiration period		10 years
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) | Non-Employee Directors
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expiration period					10 years
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) | Certain Share-based Awards Granted During Fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017 to Non-employee Directors | Non-Employee Directors
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expiration period		8 years
Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Remaining lives		1 year
Credit adjusted risk-free rate		7.00%
Minimum | Subsequent Event | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating lease, right-of-use asset						$ 40,000,000
Operating lease, liability						40,000,000
Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Remaining lives		25 years
Credit adjusted risk-free rate		7.50%
Maximum | Subsequent Event | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating lease, right-of-use asset						50,000,000
Operating lease, liability						$ 50,000,000
Machinery and Equipment
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment charge of capitalized costs as part of ongoing CRM systems project	$ 55,800,000
Core Laundry Operations
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues recognized over time		95.80%
Percentage of revenues recognized at a point in time		4.20%
Specialty Garments
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues recognized over time		82.70%
Percentage of revenues recognized at a point in time		17.30%
First Aid
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues recognized at a point in time		100.00%
Computer Software, Intangible Asset
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment			$ 11,600,000
Customer contracts
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life		13 years 7 months 6 days
Other intangible assets
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life		3 years 3 months 18 days