Have the shirts been dried yet? If so, that makes the stains more difficult / impossible to remove.

I use Dawn too and it gets almost everything out, but there are some times that a few extra steps are required. You could try soaking the shirts in Oxiclean (or equivalent) overnight to see if it might work on the stains, then wash again. If it is an organic stain then something with enzymes (like Bac-out by Biokleen) might work well.

You could also try one of the commercial stain removers like Shout or similar, of course.

If all else fails, you could try some Lestoil which contains Stoddard Solvent and is really potent stuff - but it will make your whole washer smell more than a bit like pine oil if you use too much!

Do you know what the stains are caused by? Dawn is generally good on greasy soil...

Enzymes are good for food-based spots. Shout and Bio-Kleen Bac Out spray contain enzymes. As does Spray and Wash, I think.

Some stains can be permanently set by heat, so if these clothes have been through the dryer you may have a hard time removing them.

Lestoil and Oxi-clean are the ones I use all the time. I apply Lestoil directly to grass or oil stains -usually I let it sit for a couple of hours or even overnight - and it gets out most things... but, yes, the wash can smell a bit while the clothes are wet. And Oxi-clean in hot water has taken out all sorts of other stains on whites and colored clothes without fading the clothes.

I haven't found Spray 'n Wash or Shout to be as effective as either of these.

I'll have to try Dawn. Bought some the other day.

A friend told me about Greased Lightening and it really works and doesn't smell like pine.

Most Cascade dishwasher detergents have enzymes and are a good soak/booster for laundry. I know a couple people who swear by the Tide Stain pens now too. Have one, but haven't tried it.

As said though much depends on the stain. A lot of times I'll just rub in some laundry detergent and let it sit for a while. Or make a Borax paste.

Thank you for all of the hints. Heaven only knows what the stains are...since I once found a piece of onion in his shirt pocket, I am guessing that at least some of them are food!! He also buys and sells woodworking equipment and tractors, so there is NO telling!
Again my thanks...I'm off to the dollar store to get some new supplies.

I usually use Zout. Rub it in good and let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes. I have had very good results with Zout.

I second the Zout. For a convenient spray type pre-treater, it beats the others and I've tried them all it seems, lol.

I rub Oxy-clean onto the stain and add enough of a liquid detergent onto the stain to make a paste and then rub it. Add a splash of water to keep it moist. I also use Biz in the same way. Both (OxyClean & Biz) remove stains equally as well. If the process doesn't remove it the first time, keep rubbing and repeat the process.

I really like Shout and it has given me great results.

Now there's an Advanced Shout which can only be used on laundry items right before they go in the washer. When my dd came home from camp, she had spilled red paint all over a brand-new, very nice white t-shirt. She had used the Tide Stain Pen on it but the pen had run out while there was still a large untreated blotch -- and the area she had treated was still pink.

I sprayed it thoroughly with the Advanced Shout and washed it in Tide w/bleach. It came out with NO paint on it -- white again. I was thrilled.

I posted a message about mold on a shirt. Well I finally got it out. Oxi-clean spray. I sprayed it on and rubbed it in. Then then it sit.
Finally this beautiful (very expensive) shirt is clean!