For very light rust, I use oil and a copper (NOT STEEL) pad. (Try a magnet, some pads are copper plated steel!) You will have to use a cloth to rub off the copper, but that should be no problem. Just use a light hand. If the rust turns out to be too deep, STOP!. You can remove light rust - you cannot restore metal that has rusted away and a heavy hand with coarse sandpaper won't help at all.
Jim