Can the madi vastram hung out for dry be removed from the clothesline by wearing a plastic cover? Or must they be removed only with a wooden stick? Does removing them with a plastic cover make them tainted? Pardon my ignorance.

It is a practice to remove the clothes only with a wooden stick or cane. Plastic is a modern-day material. During occasions such as a shraddham when one must stay pure, we do not touch plastic.

Some remove the vastram with a woollen blanket. Removing clothes with plastic covers does not meet the requirements of orthodox practices of the elders and they have never attempted such practices.