For many years after phosphates were banned in consumer detergents, they just sucked. You'd need to add a booster of some kind or run longer cycles (or two cycles). At the same time high efficiency machines were also mandated. The combination meant everything sucked. In the years since both detergents and machines have improved, but simply adding phosphate will guarantee good results in your dishwasher and clothes washer regardless. Whenever your machine needs cleaning just run it with two or three tablespoons of TSP.
Is it safe to eat (have on your plates and dishes in case the rinse cycle doesn't get all of it off?)
Phosphates clean like nothing else. There will be less residue with phosphate detergents than with what you buy off the shelf these days.
Why was it removed?
Yeah, I remember when the soap sucked because of the phosphate ban. No issues with it now, though. Works just fine.
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