It's extraordinarily rare for a reasonably-maintained steel frame to fail from rust. Cleaning really isn't an issue, and even salt from roads in winter will tend to attack components rather than a properly-painted steel frame.

One of my favourite bikes was a 1984 Raleigh. It hadn't led a sheltered life and at 29 years old there was no sign of any rust. Didn't save it when someone drove into it, but that's another story.