I, too, have the "shelf" problem. I use either Spray & Wash or Shout, spray the spot well, and scratch it in with my fingernail. The stain almost always comes out - if it doesn't, I repeat the process before drying. Sometimes I bleach my white, cotton shirts, too. I do know that if a shirt is dried with a grease stain, it is really hard and sometimes impossible to get out.