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Research has identified some of the most common warning signs that a relationship may be drifting towards a dead end — and they aren’t always dramatic rows or obvious dealbreakers.

According a recent poll, having fewer meaningful conversations is one of the top indicators your relationship is fading. This was followed by preferring to scroll through phones rather than talk to one another and retreating to separate rooms to watch TV. Other key warnings included no longer doing fun activities together, sleeping separately, and not making an effort with date nights.

Among those who admitted to staying in a romantic relationship longer than necessary, 63% did so because they hoped things would improve, while 33% were afraid of change. But this tendency to stay loyal to things that don’t deliver anymore extends beyond relationships – and into possessions.

It turns out that many of us are just as likely to stay loyal to a clunky, outdated microwave as we are to a partner, holding onto things long after they’ve stopped delivering the goods.

Nearly (47%) have owned a microwave for longer than they were in a romantic relationship and, 36% admitted to holding onto one even though it was no longer performing well.

The research was commissioned by SharkNinja, which partnered with Olivia Attwood who posted a tongue-in-cheek film on her socials that begins like a heartfelt break-up conversation – before revealing that she’s in fact addressing her microwave.

Olivia Attwood said: “The fact that so many people have owned a microwave for longer than a relationship shows just how attached we become to things we’re familiar with.

“As much as I see the value in holding onto things that have served us for long periods of time, it’s so important to upgrade certain elements of our lives.”

The study found microwave owners expressed similar reasons for staying put as they do in relationships.

Among those hanging onto an old appliance, 59% said it was because it still worked and 36% had just not got around to replacing it. But this leads to many people continuing to put up with common frustrations, such as unevenly cooked meals (16%), slow cooking times (15%), and crispy food losing its crunch (13%).

It also emerged many struggle to let go of all sorts of things long past their useful life, such as old chargers and cables (52%).

Along with clothes that no longer fit (52%), dated receipts and paperwork (46%), and birthday cards and handwritten notes (43%).

Appliances can also become a surprising source of conflict during break-ups, as 13% have argued with an ex-partner about who would keep household items.

Televisions (43%), gaming consoles (29%), and microwaves (27%) were among the most disputed possessions.

Meanwhile, 19% admitted they had kept an appliance following a split mainly because they did not want their ex-partner to have it.

Carolyn Anderson, from SharkNinja UK, which is marking the launch of its Ninja CRISPi Microwave, said: “There’s something very British about putting up with something because it technically still works, even when we know it could be delivering much better results.”