I personally like my desktop with no icons on it.  That way my background picture is fully enjoyable. I right click on the toolbar in the lower right hand corner. Select "toolbars" and then put a checkmark on the "desktop" one. See first attached screenshot.

That makes a nice pop up list of all my desktop icons down below. Just click on the double >> symbols to the right of the now appearing word "desktop" and the full text list with small favorite icons pops up.  See second attached screenshot. 

Double click on anything on the list to open.

Been a while so I can't recall if I had to physically remove them off the desktop then or whether it pulled them off automatically. Be careful so you don't delete them permanently.