Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2014	May 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Segment information
Sales revenue, net	$ 319,949,000		$ 319,387,000		$ 631,727,000	$ 623,903,000
Asset impairment charges		9,000,000		12,050,000	9,000,000	12,049,000
Operating income	24,603,000		30,356,000		47,726,000	50,981,000
Capital and intangible asset expenditures	1,866,000		17,578,000		3,688,000	34,578,000
Depreciation and amortization	9,993,000		7,991,000		18,493,000	16,438,000
Housewares
Segment information
Sales revenue, net	69,637,000		70,165,000		136,393,000	133,695,000
Operating income	13,891,000		13,772,000		26,926,000	26,228,000
Capital and intangible asset expenditures	218,000		167,000		1,042,000	381,000
Depreciation and amortization	889,000		1,004,000		1,777,000	2,023,000
Healthcare/Home Environment
Segment information
Sales revenue, net	126,218,000		133,044,000		268,707,000	258,646,000
Operating income	4,508,000		4,974,000		13,225,000	11,510,000
Capital and intangible asset expenditures	1,081,000		17,009,000		1,487,000	33,114,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,027,000		4,342,000		10,259,000	9,123,000
Nutritional Supplements
Segment information
Sales revenue, net	24,634,000				24,634,000
Operating income	110,000				110,000
Capital and intangible asset expenditures	177,000				177,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,359,000				1,359,000
Acquisition-related expenditures	3,610,000				3,610,000
Personal Care
Segment information
Sales revenue, net	99,460,000		116,178,000		201,993,000	231,562,000
Asset impairment charges					9,000,000	12,049,000
Operating income	6,094,000		11,610,000		7,465,000	13,243,000
Capital and intangible asset expenditures	390,000		402,000		982,000	1,083,000
Depreciation and amortization	$ 2,718,000		$ 2,645,000		$ 5,098,000	$ 5,292,000

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 23

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration