Deleting folders on macbook air

The files showing up under 'recents' doesn't mean that they exist on your MacBook twice. It's simply another way to access the file(s). Therefore if you delete the downloads folder (where the original files are located at) they will be removed from the 'Recents' folder as well.

Yes, they are not filed under "recents" - that is simply a list to show you a list of files you worked on quickly. Their location is wherever you actually filed them.

I do not use Chrome, but there is no need to file anything in the browser (actually, unless they are bookmarks or URL links, I don't believe you can actually file something within a browser). You can simply create a folder on your desktop or in your User folder and name it whatever you like. You have access to that file whether your browser is open or not. And, the download folder is meant to hold your downloaded files temporarily until you decide on the proper place to put them.

The files aren’t in Recents, that isn’t a folder on your drive but rather just an easy way to access files you’ve recently used. The files remain in their original location, so if you delete them from that downloads folder, you will not be able to access them from Recents.

EDIT: Slow typing today...

You do not really want to delete the downloads folder - only the files in it.