Thanks, but I don't think you've understood what I mean (i.e., where the unwanted icons are located). I would attach a picture if I could figure out how to do it. But at this point the best I can do is make my description more detailed. My finder window in column mode is topped with a large grey band. Beneath it are the columns with the lists of items: the sidebar on the far left, then columns listing folders and files to the right, and folders and files within those in the columns further to the right.
The unwanted icons are NOT in the columns, but are within the grey band at the top. At the far left in the grey band are the back and forward arrows, then the icons for choosing the finder view mode, then the icon for selecting new folder, new burn folder, open, get info, duplicate, etc. At the
far right is the white bar with the magnifying glass for Searching. The unwanted icons I'm concerned about are icons for files that I have made which have accidentally got into the grey band in the area between the above mentioned standard features. If you know of a way I could include a screen shot here to make this more clear, please let me know.