DesktopSweeper is a freeware APE Module that allows you to hide—and show again—the Finder's Desktop icons.

DesktopSweeper doesn't work by covering the Desktop so your desktop background is not affected at all, even if you use an application that displays animated or screensaver'ed backgrounds. It's also very useful to Cocoatech Path Finder users who keep the Finder running in the background.

Note that if you log out or quit the Finder while icons are hidden, the next time you'll log-in (or launch the Finder) the icons will be displayed where you expect them.

Requirements:
OS X 10.4 - 10.5
Universal Binary