Thanks for the info.
I downloaded and installed TINKERTOOL. I am able to select the feature to show "hidden files", but cannot find the option to DELETE all the .ds_store files to reset all folders to be alike (i.e. factory default?)
Any idea where this option is located in TINKERTOOL preferences?
Oops: Just noticed you suggested TinkerTool "SYSTEM" app.
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I found this little trick using TERMINAL : http://osxdaily.com/2012/07/05/delete-all-ds-store-files-from-mac-os-x/
Worked like a charm. And the beauty of this was that I had used FASTICONS to customize folders with different photos rather than the standard "blue" look. The above-mentioned terminal script DID NOT change those back to blue . . . which is great. Nor did it remove any coloured tags. Bonus. 
It DID, however, change all the folder windows to a white background and uniform size/spacing for the folder files and icons. Just what I was looking for.
