8 genius ways to use Velcro around the house

Velcro is one of the easiest ways to temporarily fasten two things together. However, it's also great for fastening things a little more permanently.

Here are eight ways you should be using Velcro in your everyday life.

There are few things more annoying than an area or kitchen rug that won't stay put.

By adding one piece of Velcro to each corner of the rug (and the floor beneath), you can keep the rug from sliding around or bunching up. Also, if you need to wash the rug, you will have a visual marker for where it was before.

One of the most effective ways to organize cables -- whether it be the ones behind your desk or those in your book bag -- are with strips of Velcro.

You can make cable ties with standard Velcro, or you can purchase straps specifically designed to group things together. Just wrap the Velcro strap around the wound cables, push the small end of the strap through the slot on the opposite end of the Velcro strap, pull tight and press down.

These ties only takes seconds to apply or remove, making them very effective for dozens of different uses.

Alina Bradford suggested turning limited-edition controllers for your gaming consoles into pieces of wall art by using some Velcro and sticking them to the wall when they're not in use.

They don't have to be limited-edition, though. You can do this with any ol' controller, and if you don't want them displayed prominently, you can find a more discreet location to place them, like a flat surface on the backside of your TV. Either way, Alina's advice still stands true:

"Make sure to use the soft loop side of the Velcro on the controller to avoid friction on your hands while you play. Also, apply the Velcro to the battery pack instead of the controller itself so that the controller stays pristine."

While you probably use your gaming controller almost as often as your television remote, the remote likely gets misplaced more often. You don't hold it the entire time you're watching TV, unlike a controller when you're playing a game.

To keep the remote out of sight but still nearby, attach a piece of Velcro (the loop side) to the back of it and attach the hook side of the Velcro to the inside or under the lip of your coffee table.

Now you know exactly where to reach to change the channel or power on the TV -- as long as you remember to put the remote back there when you're done with it.

If you have some art you want to hang without putting yet another hole in the wall, a few, small pieces of heavy-duty Velcro are your best bet.

Apply two to four strips, approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, along the back of the piece. Use a level to line up the art, and press firmly against the wall.

No doubt, your HDD is far more valuable than its original price tag. It holds all your sensitive information, digital memories and important data.

If you're afraid of knocking it over or bumping it when it's on your desk, get it up and off the desk with a little Velcro.

One option is to mount it along a vertical surface. For instance, I have a stand on my desk for my MacBook, which has a protected (and unused, at that) vertical surface which would be perfect for protecting a small HDD. The other option is to mount the HDD on the underside of the desk. If you go this route, make sure you opt for the heavy duty Velcro with a higher holding capacity and use two or three strips for an extra-secure hold.

Unless you trust your neighbors or have a truly hidden spot, hide-a-keys are not the best idea. People have wised up to the fake rocks, and hiding a key under the doormat was never a good idea.

However, a small piece of Velcro can go a long way in helping hide your spare key. You can stick the key inside the glove compartment in your car, under a windowsill near the back of your house or another nondescript place.

Velcro allows you to stick your spare key in places that are otherwise unfeasible, places that are completely out of sight. And you don't have to worry about it moving or getting blown away by a gust of wind.

If you have a problem with your dog's bowls sliding around, attach two or three pieces of Velcro to the bottom of each bowl to keep them from moving while your dog noses around at its food.

Over time, if you wash the bowls, you may need to replace the Velcro. But this will keep the bowls secure for months at a time.